This movie is a dependent sequel to Chinatown, and you may be somewhat lost unless you have a good recall. It’s not as sordid as its predecessor but it’s also not as gripping, plodding along vaguely until it peters out at the final solution. It retreads many of the superficial beats of the first film, too, using formula as ersatz meaning.

Closest comparison: It’s like The Long Goodbye by way of Chinatown.

Setting: Noir
Plot: Detective
Tone: Detective