Crimewave *** (1985, Louise Lasser, Paul L Smith, Brion James) – Classic Movie Review 5880

Writer-director Sam Raimi joins forces with the Coen brothers, Joel and Ethan, for the script of this strange, knockabout, 1985 black-comedy thriller, gleefully infested with spoof slapstick goofball absurd black humour.

Oddball actors Paul L Smith and Brion James are just right as crazy, bizarre rat catchers/ incarcerators/ exterminators Faron Crush and Arthur Coddish, who set out on a crime and murder binge in Detroit and find hysterical housewife Helene Trend (Louise Lasser) in their path.

Raimi’s highly stylised direction and the film’s tongue-in-cheek acting grab the attention. However, the story verges on the incomprehensible and the humour sags. Still the film is short (83 minutes), colourful, different, and an interesting collector’s cult item.

Also in the cast are Sheree J Wilson, Bruce Campbell (as Renaldo ‘The Heel’), Reed Birney (as Vic Ajax), Edward R Pressman, Julius Harris, Richard Bright, Antonio Fargas, Hamid Dane, John Hardy, Emil Sitka, Hal Youngblood, Sean Farley and Frances McDormand (nun).

There are cameos from Joel Coen and Ethan Coen as reporters at the execution, Ted Raimi (waiter) and Julie Harris.

Robert Primes shoots in Technicolor.

© Derek Winnert 2017 Classic Movie Review 5880

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