Q

Rarely have I seen a performance so dominate a film as does Michael Moriarty's in 1982's Q - THE WINGED SERPENT.  I mean dominate.  Many will never watch this movie because it is perceived, quite accurately, as a cheap, ridiculous creature feature with all the expected tropes.  Those who sought out writer/director/producer Larry Cohen's film were expecting the usual low grade thrill, but instead likely found themselves marveling at Moriarty's over-the-top eccentricity.  That certainly was the case for yours truly.

He's quite amazing here.  At times, he's so hysterical it's as if he's emulating the sort of acting found in Ed Wood movies.  That is fitting, as this story of a giant lizard with an impressive wingspan that regularly dines on New Yorkers certainly sounds like something the infamous director might've overseen.  Moriarty, who plays a pathetic small time crook named Jimmy Quinn, has a lengthy freak out in his apartment that has to be seen to be disbelieved.  It's so broad and comical you just have to hand it to the actor for his complete abandon.  Not many "serious" actors would be willing to take such a trip.   What can co-star Candy Clark, who plays his girlfriend, do but look on in astonishment?  Her work almost doesn't feel like acting, perhaps incredulousness and borderline concern.

The same may be said of top billed David Carradine, portraying a detective who is investigating a string of ritual cult murders that he eventually finds are related to that carniverous bird.  It's called Q, Questzalcoatl, and maintains a nest atop the Chrysler Building.  During a bravura sequence in which Quinn names his terms for leading the police to Q, Carradine and Richard Roundtree (as Sergeant Powell) and others can do little but sit back and let Moriarty go.  I'm sure Cohen did likewise.  It's sometimes feels as if Moriarty thinks he's in another movie, acting all Method and such.  I've always found him interesting.  If you are only familiar with his role on the early years of Law & Order you'll be quite amused.  Though a similar energy is there.

Oh, the rest of the movie? Just your usual grade Z horror, the kind of thing producer Samuel Zarkoff did in earlier decades, though with a modern sensibility and a lot of four letter words (and one topless shot).  The blood and gore scenes are just enough, but certainly won't satisfy the rabid fans.  The stop motion shots of Q look like imitation Ray Harryhausen, and that finale with New York's finest versus the winged nightmare is endearingly cheesy.  The aerial shots of NYC are most impressive, though, and Cohen does some nice location shooting.

Is Q - THE WINGED SERPENT scary? Nah. Funny? Oh, yeah.  Besides Moriarty's near nonstop burlesque, we get one of the cops hoisting a Budweiser before he takes another shot at the bird and Carradine's deadpan line when he sees a giant egg in Q's nest -

"Look at that fuckin' omelete!"