Cop Killers

I'd never heard of this film, but happened to be reading "Flesh Gordon" star Jason Williams' memoir (meh) and noticed that he had made this film during the same era. It was actually shot well before "Flesh" got released in 1974, but just as that movie was delayed a long time by budgetary/special effects issues, this one was delayed even longer--several years, even--due to disputes between business partners. When it finally did get a theatrical release, it was minuscule, just a a couple Texas drive-ins or something.

Anyway, among all the mostly boring rural car (or motorcycle) chase movies released to grindhouses and drive-ins in the 1970s, this is above-average, despite being a dirt-cheap production. It's just a pretty tight thriller that commits immediately to being nasty-our longhaired (anti)heroes pick up a load of cocaine dropped by helicopter in the desert, and very soon face a phalanx of police cars. It turns out one of the guys (Williams' character Ray) is a full-on remorseless psycho who has no hesitation in blowing all the lawmen away. This somehow comes as a surprise to his partner/BFF Alex played by Bill Osco, who was a producer on "Flesh" and many other exploitation movies. Nonetheless the duo stick together, determined to reach their designated buyer and collect a big payout.

The problem isn't just that now presumably every law officer within 200 hundred miles is looking for them, necessitating frequent changes of cars. The problem is also that in acquiring those cars, plus committing a few robberies en route, they gain the attention of various unlucky witnesses whom Ray is all too happy to terminate. This doesn't sit well with Alex, particularly once they gain a hostage in the form of Karen (Diane Keller). She is understandably terrified-both she and Alex soon realize that Ray has no intention of letting her live, even if their mission is otherwise accomplished. And they do get pretty damn close to accomplishing that mission, with things really sparking in the last lap when the trio meet up with another threesome: The very droll coke buyer (Michael D. Collins) and his two stoned-AF hippie-chick mammas (Donna Stubbert, Judy Ross).

This seems to have been the sole movie for several performers here-apparently the production recruited from southwestern theater groups on location. Those last three named are very entertaining, though god only knows if they were inspired actors or just "playing themselves" through a thick pot haze. The handsome, all-American-surfer-looking Williams is good playing against type as a vicious bully; Osco and Keller are okay.

Still, a general lack of professional-grade polish to the cast and filmmaking actually works in the movie's favor, lending it a certain effectively sleazy edginess reminiscent of other low-budget wonders like "The Sadist." The grungy backroads atmosphere and fairly tight pacing (though yes we're still talking a circa 1973 sense of editorial pace) punch things across, even if the staging of violence and action sequences is adequate rather than especially vivid or stylish. There's a certain nihilism to it that is compelling-without being pretentious about it, the movie makes no bones about the fact that no one here is likely to make it out alive.

Jason Williams and Bill Osco are running cocaine through the Arizona desert. They run into police and there's a shootout. A bunch of the police are killed, so the two take off with their drugs. They run into Diane Keller, whom they take hostage, and continue on their merry way.

There's some differentiation between the two. Williams is the leader, and far more murderous. He threaten Osco and Miss Keller. Over all, it's a cheap shocker of a movie, with plenty of blood, hippie types, and some nudity.

The nudity and violence is due to the fact that producer Walter Cichy had just had his previous opus, Flesh Gordon seized. He needed cash. A local owner of X-rated theaters put up the money. He was, by report, interested in more mainstream production. What he got was violent, ugly, poorly acted, and decently, although unimaginatively shot.

I am in this movie and for 36 years didn't even know it was ever released. I'm the lead cop in the final scene with the shot gun that guns the bad guys down during the exciting climax. I have posted it on Youtube. We spent the whole day up in Kearney, AZ filming that last sequence. The producer gave the car to an old man who came along catching rattlesnakes. I remember waiting while they went into town to get some kind of brains at Safeway to put under the girls skull cap in order to get the right effect when they shot her in the head. My family was quite surprised to see me in the film as they didn't know anything about it. Yes, the movie is bad, but in a good way. You can see the microphone cords running under the bad guy's shirt in many scenes. In one shot one of the sound guys can be seen in the back seat of the car. The director wasn't big on re-doing scenes. The movie was shot in 16mm and then transfered to 35mm. It cost $50,000 to make of which I was paid $100. What a hoot! I'm giving it a 10 cause I'm in it!

Movie flowed smoothly along and held your attention to the screen. Action at a high level, characters interesting enough, a basic kind of story you can relate to (Get away! Get the mess over with, get the money). There is one fully degenerate character and another partly-degenerate character. A girl/hostage is along for the ride (not a very impressive actress). Outdoor scenery is a plus. And you meet this hippie cat who lives out in the middle of nowhere in a tapestry cocoon w/ 2 spaced-out hippie chicks. He's a pretty cool cat. There's enough shooting in this film to keep you happy.

Read it, read the book. Start from where it says, he plunged his.... A classic movie in every sense of the word. Whats not to like about this flick. Lots of booze, drugs and babes, all in an ice cream truck to boot! My only regret is that I don't own my own copy.