Honey Don't! (MA) - 89 minutes

Film noir meets dark comedy with a lesbian lens.

That is the wild ride you are in for when you front up to Honey Don’t!

It is the work of writers Ethan Coen (who also directs) and Tricia Cooke.

They drew inspiration from Robert Altman’s The Long Goodbye (1973) and John Huston’s Fat City (1972).

The Honey referred to is Honey O’Donahue (Margaret Qualley), a sexy, no nonsense private investigator who lives in a town called Bakersfield.

She stays there to protect her sister Heidi (Kristen Connolly) and her nieces and nephews. Honey and Heidi’s childhood was marked by an abusive father.

Honey is regularly hit upon by persistent homicide detective Marty Matakawitch (Charlie Day), although she makes it clear to him that she likes girls.

In fact, getting hot and heavy with them is an important part of her make up.

Her latest liaison is with a policewoman, MG Falcone (Aubrey Plaza), whose passion appears to run equally deep.

As a PI, Honey’s instincts are strong.

Something is clearly afoot at the church, where the evangelical preacher, Reverend Drew Devlin (Chris Evans) is up to more than a little hanky panky of his own.

Devlin is a sexual deviant and control freak, who has a very unchristian like way of dealing with his problems.

And then, after being bashed up by her boyfriend, the eldest of Honey’s nieces, Corinne (Talia Ryder) goes missing.

This is playful pulp fiction with blood lust.

Not everything is readily explained and yet the excess apparent throughout drew me in.

Margaret Qualley is the knockout drawcard in the lead role, which she approaches with a smouldering intensity.

As Honey, she is single minded, knows which way is up and doesn’t tolerate foolishness.

Aubrey Plaza is a surprise packet as a law enforcement officer with a dark side.

Chris Evans’ characterisation of a man of the cloth has a decided ugly bent.

There is a twinkle in Charlie Day’s eye as Marty Matakawitch tries to win over Honey O’Donahue, knowing full well that that will never happen.

Honey Don’t! is the equivalent of a page turner, where you are never sure what is coming next.

It is sensual, crime infested, bold and belligerent, with some delightful cinematic touches.

Honey drives an open top vintage turquoise Chevrolet, while a cheeky little scooter adds to the charm.

But what really makes this left of centre movie is the performance of Margaret Qualley as the femme fatale.

Rated MA, Honey Don’t! scores a 7½ out of 10.