Dennis Hopper’s The Hot Spot, released in theaters on October 26, 1990, is a neo-noir fever dream set in a sweltering Texas town, dripping with sexual tension and moral ambiguity. Adapted from Charles Williams’ 1953 novel Hell Hath No Fury and starring Don Johnson, Virginia Madsen and Jennifer Connelly, the film immerses viewers in a world where trust is fleeting and betrayal comes with the heat.
Harry Madox (Johnson), a wandering drifter, rolls into a sleepy small town and snags a job as a used car salesman. He exudes both charm and mystery, drawing the attention of two women: his boss’s dangerous wife Dolly Harshaw (Madsen) and the innocent office clerk Gloria Harper (Connelly).
Dolly is all sultry bravado, quick to seduce Harry and equally quick to blackmail him when she learns his secrets.
Gloria, meanwhile, has her own troubles—a vicious local criminal, Frank Sutton (William Sadler), is blackmailing her over compromising photos, threatening to ruin her reputation.
Sensing opportunity, Harry plots a daring bank heist, exploiting the town’s volunteer firemen who leave the place unattended. He pulls off the robbery but, in classic noir style, finds himself immediately entangled in suspicion, seduction, and schemes gone wrong.
Gloria’s vulnerability and Dolly’s ruthless sexuality form a treacherous triangle, while Harry faces mounting pressure from law enforcement and Sutton.
As Harry tries to protect Gloria and extricate himself from Dolly’s grip, every move draws him deeper into danger and duplicity.
Betrayal simmers, violence erupts, and nobody escapes unscathed as the town’s web of secrets unravels.
Hopper’s direction leans into genre tropes—smoldering glances, smoldering summer, and labyrinthine motives—while showcasing Johnson’s cool performance and Madsen’s magnetic turn as the femme fatale.
Connelly provides genuine sensitivity, offsetting the otherwise fevered tone.
The film’s languid pacing and heat-soaked visuals reflect old-school noir updated for the 1990s, with explicit content amplifying the sense of threat and compromise.
Charles Martin Smith, Barry Corbin, Virgil Frye and Jerry Hardin round out the supporting cast.
Hopper described the film as “Last Tango in Texas. Real hot, steamy stuff.”
The Hot Spot‘s world premiere was at the 1990 Toronto International Film Festival.
Jennifer Connelly and Don Johnson in The Hot Spot (Photo/Orion Pictures)
Reception for The Hot Spot
The Hot Spot grossed $112,188 on its opening weekend, in limited release on 23 screens.
The film would gross $1.3 million in its theatrical run.
Roger Ebert gave the film three out of four stars in his review.
Legacy
The Hot Spot was met with moderate success and critical curiosity upon release, but its legacy has grown as an underrated entry in the neo-noir wave, admired for its moody cinematography and complex characters.
Madsen in particular has been recognized for her bold, layered performance.
Today, the film stands as a parable of how lust, money, and secrets fatally intersect, and how even a drifter’s schemes can leave him scorched by desire and haunted by regret.
