"Touch of Evil" opens with a classic piece of film making; the shot follows a bomb in the boot of a car as it travels along. As the timer ticks down, the camera soars overhead, taking in the sleazy bars, music, cafes and people that the car passes. After over three minutes on this single shot the camera settles on a couple walking by, the car explodes and they join the other witnesses who rush over to see what has happened. The couple are newlyweds on honeymoon; he is Mike Vargas (Heston), Mexico's leading narcotics policeman, who puts the honeymoon on ice to help investigate the bombing and comes into conflict with the local police.

Orson Welles plays Captain Quinlan the huge, sweating, embittered chief of police, who regularly plants evidence to support his intuition. Mike's wife, Susan, played by Janet Leigh, is excellent as the innocent who gets dragged into the middle of the conflict. Heston is restrained and controlled as the principled Mexican cop, although his makeup does make him stand out from the "Latino" actors rather than fit in with them. However, it is Welles who shines, both in front of and behind the camera as director.

The cinematography and Welles' virtuoso camera work make Touch of Evil a taut and well-paced thriller. The subtlety of his direction gives the film an intimate feel and nervous atmosphere. Touch of Evil was Welles' last film as a director in Hollywood, and as one of the highlights of his career it is as unforgettable and spectacular as the climax of the film itself.