Death Drug

Oscar Williams magnum opus is one of the most entertaining films I have ever seen. When one combines an Ed Woodian level of artistry and competence, deadly earnestness about the evils of drugs (not unlike Reefer Madness), blaxploitaion elements (Dolemite, The Black Six), Phillip Micheal Thomas and a script written by a doctor, an unintentionally surreal, absurdist masterpiece emerges. Believe me when I tell you, you will not believe how PERFECTLY awful this film is and you will enjoy every millisecond of it. From PMT's monologue (shot with a 1980's vhs camcorder), to the convoluted plot, to the Gap band, to the vhs newsreel footage to the pcp freak out scenes, you will find yourself obsessed, as I am. Do yourself a favor and find this gem. Enjoy

"Death Drug" begins with the end credits… Now, before you start thinking this has a deeper ambitious or artistic meaning, like in "Irreversible" or "Memento" for example, let me just assure you this isn't the case. This is purely a little illustration of the clumsy editing and amateurish production values this movie is dealing with. Remember "Reefer Madness"; the awful but unintentionally amusing 30's tutorial project about the dangers of drugs? "Death Drug" is something similar, made in the late 70's and with heavy blaxploitation influences, with a completely fictional, grotesque and laughable plot. Philip Michael Thomas, that Tubbs guy from "Miami Vice", is a struggling plumber who's finally beginning to have some luck regarding his aspiring music career. But then he becomes addicted to PCP – a drug known on the street as Angel Dust – and his whole life goes down the drain in various phases, including ignorance, paranoia, aggression and hallucination. His loving wife tries to help, but first he has to admit there's a problem and blah blah blah. This is a brilliantly inept movie! There's nothing even remotely decent about this production, and the only reason why I want to recommend "Death Drug" is because it delivers guaranteed laughs. The script is incoherent as hell, since Tubbs goes from the denial phase straight to rehabilitation. Here's a rundown of some of coolest side effects Angel Dust causes you to do: hunt down imaginary rats in a pile of oranges, battle giant spiders crawling on your shirt in the middle of a grocery store and accusing everybody of conspiring against you. Oh, and eventually you die because you challenged a truck to a game of chicken. After Tubbs' death, there's a hilarious series of news bulletins and interviews with random people regretting the lost young life of a great singer even though his career never even properly kick- started.

Death Drug is without a doubt, the best film of all time. Not only does it directly rip-off two classics- Disco Godfather (the anti PCP theme) and Slithis (the coke bottle vision during the hallucination), it shows Phillip Micheal Thomas at his all time best(worst). The music video will have you rollin! Watch for PMT's head superimposed over a pregnant woman's belly. Pure genius in B-movie glory!! The supplements on the video release are even better. Phillip Micheal intros and outros the film, and his ramblings make you wonder if he has indeed succumbed to the "sherm" himself. A must see!

Death Drug is one of the films that you'll never regret seeing...ever. pre-Miami Vice Philip Michael Thomas, is this way too overly happy plumber, who has dreams of becoming a music star. But after finding out that his magical dreams come true, he, his fiancé and his loser white couple friends go out partying. And after like twenty minutes of people dancing like idiots, Thomas uses the bathroom and buys some PCP from a creepy tennis playing dealer, played by Frankie Crocker (who is also in the fabulous "Darktown Strutters"!!!) Eventually, just when you think the movie can't get better, it totally does...

Thomas gets hooked on PCP and starts freaking out, from seeing a pole turn into a snake, believing his hairbrush is a baby alligator, and much more. Death Drug does the impossible, even the unthinkable, not only is it hilarious, but it also rips off Rudy Ray Moore's PCP Blaxploitaton film The Avenging Disco Godfather, this shockingly bad and bizarre abortion of a film takes two parts Ed Wood after a a brain aneurysm, mix in some retarded bad singing and music videos with some anti-drug paranoia and freak out slow mo scenes, Death Drug is an absolute Godsend of a film.

If you're able to find it anywhere, and I mean ANYWHERE! Buy, seriously, no questions asked! Trust me when I say from experience, it is worth the money!

*Watch for the hilarious scenes when Thomas flips out in the supermarket and when the crazy guy who's foaming at the mouth is chasing roller skaters with a piece of wood! Absolutely some of the most brilliant stuff I've ever scene!!!

This is without a doubt the funniest movie I've ever seen. From the intro and outro, the sheer brilliance of Philip Michael Thomas shines like a beacon for bad movie lovers everywhere! The best part, although its hard to choose one from this incredible work, is the totally out of place 1980s Philip Michael Thomas video that is ungracefully dumped right in the middle of the damn thing. This movie rules, bottom line, if you find it buy it! Don't even rent it, just buy it. Please God, or whoever chooses which movies make it to DVD, put this on a DVD and I will live the rest of my life in a convalescent bliss. 10/ 10