The film is a masterclass in suspense, boasting a "pitch-perfect" cast of character actors, a razor-sharp script full of "pitch-black humour," and an unrelenting pace that never lets up. It is a time capsule of a grimy, pre-gentrification New York, shot on location by cinematographer Owen Roizman (The French Connection), and set to an unforgettable, driving score by David Shire that has become iconic in its own right.