MovieChat Forums > Angel Heart (1987) Discussion > Never answered questions (spoilers)

Never answered questions (spoilers)

posted 2 years ago by holly61 (987)
5 replies | jump to latest

Why was Epiphany alive the next day for the cops to see her yet she supposedly died the night before during sex being murdered by a gun during the flashback? the continuity makes no sense.

The black people in that little country store seemed to smirk when Harry left as though they knew him or who he really was. Does anyone get that vibe too?

Toots sweet seemed to have no idea who Harry was. Yet Margaret and her Father seemed to sort of know it was Johnny. Why was that?

Why was Harry almost beat down and chased out of that Harlem church by those men after he touched that black figure in the chair? those men seemed to want to literally kill harry.

[–] [deleted] 2 years ago

It is all taking place in Johnny's personal hell.

[–] Seperatrix (1349) 2 years ago

I've wondered about your first question nearly every time I've watched this film (one of my favorites). I've never came up with a satisfactory answer. The most one can force for an answer is to assume that during sex his mind was flash forwarding to what he WOULD be doing to her soon. Then after the detectives visit, he murdered her. Since he would never realize murders as they occurred in real time (or remember the murders afterward), that would work . . . . but it does break precedent with the rest of the murders and what we are to understand as it's explained at the end of the film.

The country store scene I don't have a problem with. An outsider wandering into their store asking that particular question would stick out like a sore thumb. Their smirks could be for a number of reasons.

Margaret and her father were the ones who performed the ritual, so I'd suggest they were more attuned to Johnny than perhaps Toots might be -- given that Johnny was in "disguise."

The Harlem church scene might have been nothing more than bodyguards overzealous in keeping outsiders out. Or perhaps the congregation as a whole didn't know about the occultist tendencies that existed behind the scenes. Or, perhaps they were on extra alert because "one of the flock" took a gun to their head and they didn't want word to get out.

These are just thoughts off the top of my head. I have seen the film many times throughout the years but could be forgetting something (or have missed something) that would actually answer your questions.

[–] holly61 (987) 2 years ago

Margaret knew who he was. ''You wouldn't like what I see'' line said it all when reading his palm. Her interaction with him seemed one of annoyance and slight resentment, like someone meeting a cheating boyfriend years later. Her fathers interaction with him was almost one of mockery - as he was telling him the story about what happened in NYC he was practically ready to burst out laughing (or did) because he knew he was telling it to a man who committed the act but didn't remember.

Also the people in the store seemed to smirk and look at each other after he asked what was the name of evangeline's lover and they said ''she never told''. There was an undertone of ''it was you buddy''.

[–] Seperatrix (1349) 2 years ago

Interesting thoughts. I never once considered that Margaret and her father KNEW who he was.

When she said "you wouldn't like what I see" I assumed she was just interpreting something ominous about his future (which was appropriate as his time was soon ending). Her annoyance occurred when it was obvious that he wasn't an ordinary customer, given the information he was giving her: the birthday for example. I never got the impression that she suddenly became annoyed because she figured out that he was Johnny. Not saying you're wrong, just explaining how I have always interpreted that scene.

I'll have to think about Margaret's father. At that point in the film his daughter had been murdered and if he knew he was in the same room with the murderer wouldn't he have acted differently? For example -- NOT been alone in a room with him?

Lastly, the store scene . . . I can think of several reasons why the people in the store might have had that reaction. I can understand how you interpret the scene given your thoughts that everyone recognized him as Johnny, but I guess I just see it as people reacting to someone snooping around about a sensitive subject and trying to get something out of them, but being nonchalant about it as a means of subterfuge -- and they weren't having any of it. Remember how Toots said "I have a big mouth?" Well, the people in the store didn't make that mistake. I guess what happens in that town stays in that town akin to Vegas!

[–] Rusty (548) 2 years ago

1. She wasn’t murdered the night before. After Lucifer reveals everything to Johnny, he picks up the gun and the dog tags, then he heads over to Johnny’s room to shoot her in the snatch and lay the tags on her, framing ‘Angel’ (Johnny). You even see a shaved Lucifer sitting outside dressed as a black-clad nun. In this instance, Lucifer does the killing himself.

2, 3, 4. They didn’t know it was Johnny, he had a new face.