This chapter discusses the nature of evil and its relationship to eroticism, the issue of doubling, and the questions Eastwood poses about the relationship between retribution and mercy. Only two of the films considered—Blood Work and Sudden Impact—were directed by Eastwood. He produced Tightrope, while In the Line of Fire merely features Eastwood as the male protagonist; even so, his performances in both films clearly reflect his ongoing engagement with the issues of masculinity and its relationship to violence and...

This chapter discusses the nature of evil and its relationship to eroticism, the issue of doubling, and the questions Eastwood poses about the relationship between retribution and mercy. Only two of the films considered—Blood Work and Sudden Impact—were directed by Eastwood. He produced Tightrope, while In the Line of Fire merely features Eastwood as the male protagonist; even so, his performances in both films clearly reflect his ongoing engagement with the issues of masculinity and its relationship to violence and eroticism, which is explored.