Q: The Winged Serpent (1982)

Excellent performance from Moriarty, 9 August 2005

Jimmy Quinn (Michael Moriarty) is a small time crook who gets mixed up in a botched jewel heist. He escapes and makes his way to the top of the Chrysler Building. There, he discovers what appears to be a giant egg. Jimmy soon realizes that he's discovered the nesting spot of the giant serpent that's been terrorizing the city. Now, how to use that information to his advantage?

I love this stuff! Q has it all – police drama, jewelry heist, murderous cult, Shaft, and blackmail. Oh yeah, I forgot, Q also has a giant, flying serpent that's been brought back to life by some whacked-out cult that skins people as a sacrifice to the serpent. When the serpent isn't out biting the heads off of construction workers or nude sunbathers, it finds time to make a home and lay an egg in, of all places, the Chrysler Building. While Q's plot may seem far-fetched (How does a flying monster remain unseen for so long in New York? Does no one ever look up?), it's a lot of fun. It would be difficult to pack more cheese into a movie and still have it be coherent.

It's a shame that movies like Q don't receive more critical regard. Michael Moriarty is wonderful as the weak and slow-witted Jimmy Quinn. I'm serious when I say that Moriarty's work in Q should have gotten him an Academy Award nomination. He's that good. You might not like the character, but there should be no denying the brilliance of the performance. But then again, movies with flying clay monsters rarely get taken seriously.

The rest of the main cast is, for the most part, good. Any movie with both Richard Roundtree and David Carradine gets bonus points just for that casting decision. My only complaint is how underutilized Roundtree is. I would have loved to see him lay down some Shaft-style justice on the cult members. Carradine is solid and his scene with Moriarty in the diner is one of the real highlights of the movie.

If you're looking for a fun, 50s style monster movie, Q may be just right. Don't take it too seriously and you'll probably have a lot of fun.

7/10