Man, Joe Eszterhas had the 80s neo-noir erotic thriller game all figured out. This is his first of the genre, but it’d be followed by Basic Instinct, Sliver, and Jade, which are three examples of this very American version of giallo. 

Jagged Edge was directed by Richard Marquand. Yes, the same man who directed Return of the Jedi. He also directed The Legacy and another film written by Eszterhas, Hearts of Fire. 

Starring Glenn Close as lawyer Teddy Barnes, the film is about her deciding to defend accused murderer Jack Forrester (Jeff Bridges), who police believe killed his wife Page (Maria Mayenzet) with a hunting knife. She’s put off doing criminal law since an incident with her boss, district attorney Thomas Krasny (Peter Coyote). Yet when she meets with private detective Sam Barnes (Robert Loggia), who was also impacted by Krasny, she decides to take the case. 

Krasny gets information on her client from Jack’s former lover, Eileen Avery (Diane Erickson), and from Bobby Slade (Marshall Colt), who explains how Jack uses his horse training to manipulate women. Teddy feels like that’s what she’s doing to him — they’ve already slept together — and while she thinks he’s guilty, the Evidence suggests he’s innocent. It doesn’t make things any easier when she starts to receive anonymous letters with non-public case details typed on a 1942 Corona typewriter.

Of course, she gets him off. But that night, as they celebrate in bed, she sees that typewriter in his closet. What happens next? Well, you should watch this.

Physical Evidence was going to be a sequel, with Glenn Close and Robert Loggia returning. It ended up being directed by Michael Crichon and starring Burt Reynolds and Theresa Russell. This was remade in India as Antima Ghatta and Kasoor.

You can watch this on Tubi.