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Q is a fun film but the main problem with it is that monster in the title is rarely seen or is just a simple plot device and the end result is sorta unsatisfying. The story is more about the Aztec cult and their human sacrifices to their god, a Quetzalcoatl (hence Q), and the cops trying to figure what's going on than anything about the flying serpent. There is a lot of padded moments in this film. But like I said, it's fun nonetheless and is more enjoyable than Cohen's heavy handed GOD TOLD ME TO.

Q is an homage of the monster movies of the 1950s, with lower production values and even more questionable acting than their 1950s counterpart. If you don't like those movies, you'll certainly won't like this homage. But if you're like me and enjoy watching those classic genre films, Q will make you smile. I just wish there was less talk and more monster action.

A prehistoric serpent-type Aztec god soars high above New York attacking various people. Ex-con Jimmy Quinn (Micheal Moriarty) is the only living person who knows where it resides. And it's up to Detective Shepard (David Carradine) and Sergent Powell (Richard Roundtree) to find the creature in this cheese-fest. This is one of those films that you have to check your brain at the door for. Unlike most of Cohen's directorial efforts there's not even a hint of social commentary in here. Mindless entertainment B-movie fluff, but really GOOD mindless entertainment B-movie fluff.

My Grade: B

Blue Underground DVD extras: A humorous commentary by Larry Cohen; Teaser; Posters and Stills gallery; Larry Cohen bio DVD-ROM: Q Memorabilia

Michael Moriarity is a small time crook and ex-junkie who - for a price - can lead the police to the nest of a huge prehistoric bird-like creature that is feeding off the residents of New York City. A lot of reviews rightly praise Moriarity's performance but for me having David Carradine (Kung Fu) and Richard Roundtree (Shaft) play the two leading cops was very cool. The creature is an ancient Aztec god called Quetzalcoatl, and has been revived by a man carrying out human sacrifices on willing victims (a good excuse for some fairly graphic gore). Although the special effects of the creature look dated for 1982 they add a certain charm and for me are preferable to the cheap looking CGI so often employed these days. The bird attacks are gory and fun, one involves a token scene of topless female nudity and there are some impressive aerial shots of the city. The film is occasionally let down by some poor script, the whole idea of the creature living at the top of the iconic Chrysler Building but only one man knowing this is pretty silly and I felt that the plot got bogged down at times with the police investigations. Overall Q is reasonably enjoyable, far better than most of the CGI trash that gets churned out nowadays.

Q - The Winged Serpent is a trash movie classic, and it also represents one of the masters of that cinema niche's finest hours. Larry Cohen directs this movie, which follows the standard monster movie formula, and is blended well with a theme of mass hysteria and a gritty New York setting. The plot for the movie is, of course, very simple and it sees two sets of murders being investigated by David Carradine's police detective. One set of murders is made up of ritualistic killings - people being flayed, having their hearts cut out etc. The other bunch of murders is more mysterious, and it sees things such as people having their heads bitten off, or being lifted from high rooftops, as if by a giant bird. Maybe there is simply a giant bird on the loose; or maybe those ritualistic killings have reincarnated an Aztec god known as Quetzalcoatl (or just 'Q' for short), which is currently nesting in one of New York City's high buildings…

The special effects in 'Q' are definitely the film's main talking point. While they're not very 'special', they sum the movie's trash status up nicely, and the scenes that see the winged serpent swoop down and take people off rooftops are an absolute riot. The creature is also very well designed. Nowadays, special effects seem to want to be as far removed from convention as possible, so much so that it's getting to the extent that it's more of a cliché to change things than it is to leave them how they were. It is refreshing, therefore, to see that Larry Cohen has stuck the design to the classic dinosaur style. It's abundantly obvious what Cohen wanted to do with this movie, and that shows when it comes to the story surrounding the antics of the giant flying lizard. The story surrounding it has it's moments, but it's clearly just something to fill up the time between the snatch and grab killings. It doesn't matter, though, because the monster ensures that the film is always interesting and if you like your trash classics, you'll sure like this!

When the Empire State Building was being constructed, another high-rise skyscraper, the Chrysler Building was its rival. As far as I know, this is the only film to pay homage to the Chrysler Building.

The Q stands for Quetzacoatl, a winged serpent from Aztec mythology. Outside of that, the Aztec connection isn't that great. But the idea of a monster living in seclusion in New York, feeding on sunbathers and the like, is rather bemusing.

The film is a rarity: a police-procedural monster film. The only other that comes to mind is Them!, with the giant ants. This one is truer to form, though not as taut.

Entertaining. A good rainy-day film.