Q The Winged Serpent: Movie Review

We really like to write about movies that we love, or about wastes of energy that leave us feeling raped and dumbfounded. Not too many movies that we review end up with a hung jury (no pun intended). This is one great flick… mostly because of Michael Moriarty. He plays a hapless criminal/ scat singer who discovers the lair of Quetzalcoatl; a giant winged horror come to NYC in search of human sacrifice. Because both the police and his shit-fer-brains partners in crime are pursuing him, he uses the monster to alleviate all his problems. First, he leads the bad guys to the nest and to their gory, spectacular beheadings. When he is arrested for the jewel heist, he uses the monsters’ location to secure a “Nixon-like pardon” and “a million dollars”. Richard Roundtree (bad cop) and David Carradine (good cop) play the cops to the hilt.

After the deal is negotiated, this thing kicks into a high- geared monsterama. Great scenes of Q sailing around NYC, snatching up confused citizens and terrified police alike. All the subplots are woven rather nicely together, and Carradine gets the bean- eater that started all this shit in the first place.

Larry Cohen is one of our favorite schlockmeisters for so many reasons. Q is the perfect example… His writing is crisp and energetic, never telegraphing the next shock. His casting seems inspired, with actors playing characters that were written FOR them. His special effects are cheapish but never ostentatious. His subplots are always seamless and never lost in the bigger story. For example, Micheal Moriarty’s’ character uses the monster to rid himself of the dangerous gangsters that are threatening him. This increases our enjoyment while setting up another subplot. We have seen many of Mr. Cohen’s films and they all bear the stamp of thoughtful craftsmanship that we have come to expect. Spielberg should study these so he wouldn’t be such a fucking hack. His remake of “War of the Worlds” was a huge mistake; made unwatchable by lost subplots, intrusive special effects and hideous casting. If Larry Cohen had been given that kind of cash to remake “War of the Worlds”, you could bet the last of your food stamps that it would have been the masterpiece that it ought to have been.

We recommend Q to anyone who likes a good movie. This one is perfect; no one should ever have to remake it. All Twelve of us stand tall and proud, our jury slips unanimous in their verdict.