Addicted to drugs, gambling and sex, a nameless cop’s life becomes a surreal hell, with his constant intake of heroin and booze eroding what remains of his sanity. An investigation into the rape of a nun leads to a spiritual breakdown at the crime scene, where he sees the road to his salvation.

Master of transgression Abel Ferrara scored a cult hit with this gritty, New York, Catholic-guilt crime saga, which stars an unforgettable Harvey Keitel at a manic, unhinged peak. Loosely remade by Werner Herzog in New Orleans almost two decades later, the early 90s original still hits hardest.