Mala Noche
Director: Gus Van Sant
Year Released: 1985
Rating: 1.5
A store clerk aggressively pursues a Mexican immigrant he's attracted to in this indie slice-of-life based on the writings of underground Portland author Walt Curtis. As Van Sant's first feature, it shows technical competence and is fittingly moody, but it doesn't go quite far enough in exploring the plight of outsiders in America or even directly addressing its lead character's creepiness and participation in the exploitation of the immigrants (he's predatory and relentless). Van Sant's more recent work (Gerry, Elephant) represents a sort-of return to his minimalist beginnings.
