A stone-cold, liquid-nitrogen classic.

It wallows in its ceaseless bloodbath and emerges like its protagonist -- sleazy and second-rate.

Mike Hodges' top-notch adaptation of a Ted Lewis novel not only maintains interest but conveys with rare artistry, restraint and clarity the many brutal, sordid and gamy plot turns.

It's one of those films that has a mildly-intriguing premise at its core, which in this case involves a gangster trying to find out the real circumstances of his brother's death, but sadly ends up being just a little lacking in the execution of the idea.