Denzel Washington’s underrated detective thriller beat Spider-Man: Brand New Day to the punch by 38 years

Denzel Washington's 1998 supernatural detective thriller *Fallen* has drawn fresh attention following the release of *Spider-Man: Brand New Day*, which features a mind-hopping villain that echoes the earlier film's central premise. Directed by Gregory Hoblit, *Fallen* is a neo-noir police procedural that anticipated the same unsettling idea of an entity jumping between bodies decades before Marvel's latest instalment explored similar territory, making it a fitting companion watch for viewers intrigued by that mechanic.

The film follows Philadelphia homicide detective John Hobbes, played by Washington, who apprehends and executes serial killer Edgar Reese, only for identical murders to resume shortly afterwards. As Hobbes investigates, he uncovers evidence of an ancient evil capable of possessing different people, unravelling the boundaries of logic and law enforcement. Despite being one of Washington's most compelling performances, the film has remained comparatively overlooked next to his higher-profile roles in films such as *Training Day* and *Man on Fire*, though critics note its skilful blending of classic noir influences with supernatural horror.