Q

Watch: Q

10/29/19821h 33m

Theatrical Release (US)

~ Its name is Quetzalcoatl. Just call it Q. That's all you'll have time to say before it tears you apart! ~

Overview:

New York police are bemused by reports of a giant flying lizard that has been spotted around the rooftops of New York, until the lizard starts to eat people. An out-of-work ex-con is the only person who knows the location of the monster's nest and is determined to turn the knowledge to his advantage, but will his gamble pay off or will he end up as lizard food?

Director:

Larry Cohen

Status:

Released

Language:

English

Buget:

$0.00

Revenue:

$0.00

Key words:

new york city
monster
legend
mexica (aztec)
ritual murder
chrysler building
monster movie

Cast

Michael Moriarty

~ as ~

Jimmy Quinn

Candy Clark

~ as ~

Joan

David Carradine

~ as ~

Shepard

Richard Roundtree

~ as ~

Powell

James Dixon

~ as ~

Lt. Murray

Malachy McCourt

~ as ~

Commissioner

Fred J. Scollay

~ as ~

Capt. Fletcher

Peter Hock

~ as ~

Det. Clifford

Ron Cey

~ as ~

Det. Hoberman

Mary Louise Weller

~ as ~

Mrs. Pauley

View full cast & crew

Reviews (2)

Wuchak
Written 5 year(s) ago
7
Amusing Big City monster flick featuring Quetzalcoatl

As two Manhattan detectives (David Carradine and Richard Roundtree) investigate deaths linked to Aztecan ritual a huge winged serpent begins preying on citizens. A piano-playing street thug (Michael Moriarty) claims to know where its nest is located and makes a deal with the authorities. Could the beast be Quetzalcoatl?

Larry Cohen’s "Q" (1982), aka “Q: The Winged Serpent,” is a Grade B creature feature with a wink of humor. Imagine “Wolfen” (1981) if it wasn’t so artsy and didn’t take itself so seriously, albeit with a different monster, and you’d have a good picture of “Q.”

Moriarty cops a serious Bill Burr vibe as the two-bit hood while Carradine & Roundtree seem to be enjoying themselves as tough Big City investigators. Speaking of the city, this is a great way to view New York City in the early 80s. Unfortunately, Cohen drops the ball in the female department as he doesn’t know how to take advantage of the feminine resources and opportunities (and I’m not tawkin’ bout nudity or sleaze, just effective photography of women).

Nevertheless, the flick’s entertaining and shouldn’t be as obscure as it is.

It runs 1 hour, 33 minutes, and was shot in Manhattan with focus on the Chrysler Building.

GRADE: B/B-
CinemaSerf
Written 3 year(s) ago
6
This could have been so much better if the casting were not so dreadful. As it is, it's only a passable adventure that sees two cops - David Carradine and Richard Rowntree on the case of a murderer who ruthlessly decapitates his victims - usually whilst they are seemingly impregnable on a rooftop, or somewhere equally lofty. Meantime, "Quinn" (Michael Moriarty) is trying to stay one step ahead of some folks he owes money too, and whilst hiding atop the Empire State Building, happens upon something startling! As the killings intensify, and sightings of a strange creature are reported to the police, he does a deal with them to reveal what might just be it's nest. The story is fine - but there are just way few appearances from our mysterious beastie, and the plot is also cluttered up with some Inca ritualim too. When we do see "Q" - well Ray Harryhausen it isn't. It has a cheap version of the "Hammer" look to it, and the acting and dialogue are no better. It's rated 'X', but I suspect that is because there is some nudity, there is nothing at all remotely scary to see here.