Crimewave

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Crimewave

DVD Cover
Directed by Sam Raimi
Produced by Edward R. Pressman
Irvin Shapiro
Written by Ethan Coen
Joel Coen
Sam Raimi
Starring Reed Birney
Paul L. Smith
Louise Lasser
Brion James
Sheree Wilson
Music by Arlon Ober
Cinematography Robert Primes
Editing by Michael Kelly
Kathie Weaver
Kaye Davis
Distributed by Universal Pictures
Release date(s) Flag of Germany April 12, 1985
Flag of United Kingdom July
Flag of Hong Kong September 19
Flag of Finland October 4
Flag of Japan February 1986
Flag of Iceland February 20
Flag of United States April 25
Flag of Canada June 22, 1987
Running time 83 min.
Country U.S.A.
Language English
Budget $3,000,000 (estimated)
All Movie Guide profile
IMDb profile

Crimewave is a 1985 film directed by Sam Raimi, a unusual slapstick mix of film noir, black comedy and several eras, starring Reed Birney, Paul L. Smith, Louise Lasser, Brion James, and Sheree Wilson. It was his first studio film following the success of The Evil Dead. The film is also known as The XYZ Murders in some parts of the world.

The director has publicly disowned the film due to numerous clashes with studio executives. The comedy (originally titled Broken Hearts And Noses or The XYZ Murders) was set to star Bruce Campbell, be edited by Kaye Davis, and be scored by Joseph LoDuca - all of which were changed by producers. Campbell actually has a small role (as Renaldo 'The Heel') and is listed as co-producer.

The Three Stooges inspired script was written by Joel and Ethan Coen (whom the director formerly met during post production of The Evil Dead) and contains a prison named Hudsucker. The brothers would go on to make the film The Hudsucker Proxy with Raimi and Campbell. The name also appears in their 1987 film Raising Arizona. Elements of Crimewave were also re-used by frequent Raimi collaborator Josh Becker for the movie Lunatics: A Love Story, as well as by Raimi himself in Spider-Man and its sequels. Much of the film's comedy derives from the combination of surprises with traditional, explicitly familiar gags.

[edit] Plot

The film's story concerns Victor Ajax (Reed Birney), a young technician in the employ of Trend-Odegard Security. Mr. Trend, co-owner of the company (Edward R. Pressman), has learned of a plan by his partner to sell the company to Renaldo "The Heel" (Bruce Campbell) and responds by hiring two exterminators who promise to "kill all sizes" (Brion James and Paul Smith) in order to eliminate Odegard and his plan. When Vic, who has been installing security cameras in Trend's apartment building, seems about to go back to the store, Trend distracts him with a lecture about "the grand design" and sends Vic on a quest to find his dream girl. The dream girl spontaneously materializes in the form of Nancy (Sheree J. Wilson), who responds minimally to Vic but is enamored of Renaldo. Victor and several residents of the building including Mrs. Trend (Louise Lasser, top-billed) run afoul of the killers and a seemingly random series of slapstick murders ensues, which is ultimately pinned on Victor. The movie is framed by Vic's journey to the electric chair for the crimes as Nancy, accompanied by several nuns, races to the scene in order to clear him.

Raimi's trademarks are here including his 1973 Oldsmobile Delta 88 (which has virtually a starring role) and younger brother Ted Raimi. Noted Hollywood producer Edward R. Pressman also plays a pivotal role.

Bruce Campbell documents some of the production in his autobiography If Chins Could Kill: Confessions of a B Movie Actor

[edit] External links

Wikiquote has a collection of quotations related to:
Sam Raimi
1980s
The Evil Dead | Crimewave | Evil Dead 2: Dead by Dawn
1990s
Darkman | Army of Darkness | The Quick and the Dead | A Simple Plan | For Love of the Game
2000s
The Gift | Spider-Man | Spider-Man 2 | Spider-Man 3
Shorts
It's Murder! | Within the Woods | Clockwork