Clint Eastwood arguably (but for sure) ghost-directed the majority of this film and also takes the lead role as a homicide detective who's tracking a sex killer through New Orleans' famed French Quarter. What may seem on the surface as a run of the mill 80s thriller is ultimately an incisive taking-to-task examination of one of America's favorite often conservative leaning sub-genres -- Dad's getting revenge on sex crime perpetrators and serials killers. A far grimier, & sexier outing than Clint fans were used to at the time, Tightrope leans headlong into its love for Giallo by ways of structure, lighting, masks, psychosexual obsessions, & beguiling twists galore. All of that plus a chilling performance from Clint's daughter, Alison Eastwood, a fantastic score from Lennie Niehaus, incredible footage of New Orleans, a dash of queer Clint possibilities, & Clint's oiled up ass, makes for a surprising thought-provoking and scrumptiously sleazy and fun night with your new favorite American Giallo.