Angel Heart

A man named Louis Cyphre contacts Harry Angel, a private detective in New York City, in 1955 to find John Liebling, a crooner better known by his stage name Johnny Favorite, who suffered from serious neurological damage as a result of wounds he sustained in World War II. Favorite's inability to perform interfered with a contract between Cyphre and Favorite involving an undefined collateral, and Cyphre thinks that a private upstate hospital where Favorite was having extreme mental therapy for shell shock tampered with paperwork. When Harry visits the hospital, he learns that a doctor by the name of Albert Fowler did in fact alter the paperwork showing Favorite's transfer. After Harry enters his house, Fowler confesses that he was once bought off by a man and a woman so that they could flee with the deformed Favorite. Harry keeps Fowler in his bedroom because he thinks he's still hiding information, making him go through opiate withdrawal. He discovers that the doctor appears to have killed himself the following morning. Harry tries to breach his agreement with Cyphre, but when Cyphre offers him a sizable sum of money, he decides to carry on with the hunt. He quickly learns that Favorite had Margaret Krusemark, a wealthy fiancée, but had also started a covert relationship with Evangeline Proudfoot. Upon meeting with Margaret in New Orleans, Harry learns little more than the fact that Favorite has passed away—or at least is deceased in her eyes. Harry then learns that Evangeline passed away a number of years prior, but that she was survived by her daughter Epiphany Proudfoot, now 17 years old, who was born as a result of Evangeline's love affair with Favorite. Harry locates Toots Sweet, a blues guitarist and former member of the Favorite, when Epiphany refuses to speak. Harry is referred back to Margaret by Toots after using force to try to elicit information regarding Favorite's last known location. The following morning, Harry is informed by police detectives that Toots has been killed. When Harry goes back to Margaret's house, he discovers Margaret dead with her heart cut out with a ritual knife. Later, he is confronted by Ethan Krusemark's enforcers, who order him to leave town. Ethan is a strong Louisiana patriarch and Margaret's father. When Harry gets back to his hotel, Epiphany is waiting for him there. He takes her into his room, where they engage in physical arousal. Throughout this time, Harry gets images of blood splashing and trickling from the ceiling. Later, in a mud hut, Krusemark confronts him and admits that he and Margaret were responsible for removing Favorite from the hospital. He also says that Favorite was really a strong magician who exchanged fame for his soul being sold to Satan. He achieved stardom but then tried to break the agreement. In order to accomplish this, Favorite grabbed a young soldier from Times Square, killed him, and then ate his still-beating heart in order to steal his soul. Favorite had intended to pose as the deceased soldier, but he was enlisted and later hurt abroad. Favorite was taken to the hospital for treatment after suffering from amnesia and significant facial damage. On New Year's Eve 1943, Krusemark and his daughter took him from the hospital and left him there (the date on the falsified hospital records). Harry enters the restroom after hearing Krusemark tell his tale, pukes, and asks repeatedly who the soldier was. When he comes back, he discovers Krusemark submerged in a pot of boiling gumbo. When Harry visits Margaret, he discovers a vase carrying the soldier's dog tag, which is inscribed with the name Harold Angel. As Harry comes to the realization that he and Johnny Favorite are the same person, he sobs. When Cyphre comes, Harry recognizes that Lucifer is a homophone of "Louis Cyphre." Cyphre declares that after discovering his true identity, he may at last take ownership of Favorite's everlasting soul. Harry claims to be aware of who he is and that he has never killed anyone, but when he sees himself in a mirror, long-forgotten memories of him killing Fowler, Toots, the Krusemarks, and Epiphany suddenly resurface. Harry rushes back to his hotel room after learning that Epiphany had been brutally murdered from the police. Her body is covered in Harry's dog tags. Harry understands that the young kid of Epiphany being carried by the police officer is actually his grandson. Harry is informed by the police officer that he will "In response to what he has done to Epiphany, Harry says, "I know. in Hell" Harry notices the child's eyes glow, exactly as Cyphre's had at their previous encounter, suggesting that Satan is the unidentified force that caused Epiphany to get pregnant. Harry can be seen inside an iron elevator that is endlessly descending, possibly to Hell, during the end credits. Cyphre may be heard muttering "Harry" and "Johnny" as the screen goes black, claiming possession over both of their souls.