Following James M Cain's novel more closely than was allowed in the classic 1946 film noir version, Bob Rafelson's take on the murderous morality fable opts for explicit action over extra adulterous tension. Despite luminous performances from Depression drifter Jack Nicholson and young wife Jessica Lange as the plotters-in-lust, the loose ends and even looser ending point to a below par effort from Rafelson, and the final result is not up to the standard of his masterly work with Nicholson on Five Easy Pieces and The King of Marvin Gardens.

The sensuous wife of a lunch wagon proprietor and a rootless drifter begin a sordidly steamy affair and conspire to murder her Greek husband.