A hard-luck detective is hired to find a dead man's ghost—and falls under her dangerous spell.
GOTHAM
Some passions can be deadly.
A mystery-love story about Eddie Martel Mallard, a hard-luck New York detective who is hired to follow a hauntingly beautiful socialite whose husband claims she died tragically but has returned to torment him. Mallard agrees to track the "ghost" down, into a realm of erotic supernatural danger. He quickly finds himself in over his head, seduced by her powerful allure.
Quick Answer
Gotham is a 1988 American crime mystery thriller directed by Lloyd Fonvielle about a down-on-his-luck New York detective hired to track down the beautiful ex-wife of a millionaire—a woman who has been dead for ten years.
Programmer's Pick
Tommy Lee Jones is at his world-weary best as a detective in over his head with a femme fatale who might be back from the dead—or never left. Gotham serves up smoky neo-noir vibes with an erotic supernatural twist, all set in a city where the living aren’t the only ones with unfinished business.
— SassyFlix Programmer
Overview
Why This Matters
This made-for-Showtime thriller marks a rare instance of Lloyd Fonvielle both writing and directing, and features early performances by Tommy Lee Jones and Virginia Madsen in a late-1980s cable original film.
Cast & Crew
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Why Cult
Classic detective tropes get upended by a ghostly femme fatale who may be more than she appears.
Jones channels his trademark grit and confusion as a hard-luck PI entangled in a case that defies logic.
A moody, atmospheric blend of shadowy cityscapes, romantic obsession, and hints of the supernatural.
The film weaves in erotic tension and nudity, heightening the stakes of Eddie's obsession.
Scene Gallery
Threat File
A millionaire hires a detective to investigate harassment by his dead ex-wife
A possibly supernatural woman who may be haunting the living
Draws the detective into obsession and danger
Noir-infused New York
Questions from the Vault
When was Gotham released? +
Gotham first aired on August 21, 1988.
Who directed Gotham? +
Gotham was directed by Lloyd Fonvielle.
How long is Gotham? +
Gotham has a runtime of 98 minutes.
What genre is Gotham? +
Gotham is a crime, mystery, and thriller TV movie.
How does Eddie Mallard encounter the supposedly dead wife? +
While investigating claims of harassment, Eddie Mallard is confronted directly by the 'deceased' ex-wife, who claims she is not a ghost.
