A hired killer takes us for a stroll through Manhattan’s wet pavement, along with his misanthropic thoughts, and especially directed feelings of utter disgust and hatred for his new target; like he was some kind of a grown up Holden Caulfield.

The film, like everybody points out, lacks storytelling expertise. The voice over narration is unnecesary and takes away the emotional impact the images for themselves could have had. Perhaps this only inconvenience is what keeps it away from being a contender when compared to others.

But having stark realism and nihilism all over it, makes Allen Baron’s obscure opera prima what film noir is all about, the complex character study of a man trapped on a hellish existence.