Robert Aldrich’s 1955 film noir *Kiss Me Deadly* is streaming free this month as part of a new platform’s soft launch. The film is regarded as a major influence on the French New Wave and directors including Quentin Tarantino and Jean-Luc Godard, making its renewed availability significant for audiences interested in cinema history.

Ralph Meeker plays private investigator Mike Hammer, whose investigation begins after he picks up a female hitchhiker; the film also marked Cloris Leachman’s feature-film debut. Although initially unsuccessful and criticised for its themes, it later gained influence, with Tarantino acknowledging its impact on Bruce Willis’s *Pulp Fiction* character and reportedly drawing inspiration from its mysterious briefcase.