To Live and Die in L.A.

In this slick, twisty plot, two cops in Los Angeles try to track down a vicious criminal named Eric Masters. When one of them is killed by Masters the other swears revenge – no matter what the cost. He becomes obsessed with getting Masters as the law he once swore to uphold becomes meaningless to him and he and his new partner enter a dangerous game where the stakes are life and death.

Directed by William Friedkin, To Live and Die in L.A. is a brutal and cynical thriller that epitomises 80s materialistic greed and corruption. Robbie Müller's cinematography is infused with the gritty textures of 1980s Los Angeles, playing with shadow and light underscores the moral ambiguities at the the heart of the film. The film also features an energizing score by the New Wave band Wang Chung and one of the most stunningly choreographed car chases on film.

Part of our "Robby Müller: Light Work" series. Courtesy of MGM and Park Circus.