Is High Explosive Worth Watching?
Honest Review & Verdict (1943)

📖 The Core Premise

High Explosive returns to the screen in 1943, bringing a fresh narrative to the Action, Drama genre. At its heart, the film explores complex themes wrapped in a compelling storyline. As the plot unfolds, we see characters navigating a world where stakes are high. "Mike Douglas (Barry Sullivan), owner of a nitroglycerin concern hires his old friend "Buzz" Mitchell (Chester Morris), a race-driver of midget-auto cars who has been banned from racing, to go to work hauling nitro. "Buzz" makes a play for Connie Baker (Jean Parker), Mike's secretary and girlfriend, and also for Doris Lynch (Barbara Lynn), fiancée of Connie's younger brother, Jimmy ('Rand Brooks'), and gets Jimmy to replace him on a dangerous nitro haul and Jimmy, of course, has an accident and gets killed. But "Buzz" finds a way to redeem himself. The hard way."

🎬 Performance & Direction

A movie's success often hinges on its execution. In High Explosive, Chester Morris delivers a performance that attempts to elevate the material. The direction aims to balance pacing with character development, a hallmark of good Action. While there are moments of brilliance, the pacing occasionally dips.

🤔 Why You Should Watch (or Skip)

Is High Explosive worth your time? If you appreciate Action, Drama films that take risks, this is likely a decent one-time watch. However, if you are looking for a flawless masterpiece, you might find some plot points predictable.

🏆 Final Verdict

Ultimately, High Explosive is a mixed bag to the genre. With a runtime of 63 minutes, it asks for a significant time investment, but for the right audience, it pays off.

Our recommendation: Watch on OTT.