I Watch Films: Q The Winged Serpent

 

Q The Winged Serpent

In New York (1982) detectives Shepard (David Carradine) and Powell (Richard Roundtree) are investigating odd, ritual murders. Then something starts attacking people who are on roofs, and dropping body parts. Shepherd runs into Jimmy Quinn who’s failed to get a job as a pianist in a bar; out of work and owing money he takes a job as getaway driver for a diamond heist. This goes wrong and he flees, losing the diamonds and escapes into the Chrysler Building. Taking shelter high up in the spire he discovers a weird nest with a big egg.

The creature (a flying reptile) makes more attacks, is spotted across the city, but no one can figure out it’s lair. An expert links the ritual killings to the Aztec cult of Quetzalcoatl, the Winged Serpent but the detectives dismiss this. The other robbers track down Quinn, don’t believe he lost the gems so he leads them to the Chrysler Tower, claiming that’s where he hid them; the creature kills them.

Quinn holds out for $1,000,000 and his charges dropped to tell the city where the creature is. Reluctantly (Powell walks out) they pay him and Shepherd leads a team to the tower, where they find the egg and destroy it but not the creature. They take back the money, sending Quinn away, then the creature kills Powell before returning for a shoot out. The cult leader kidnaps Quinn, intending to sacrifice him to bring back the serpent, but Shepherd tracks them down; however the film hints that there is another egg.

This is very silly, but takes itself seriously. New York is grim, Quinn can’t get a break despite his girlfriend’s help, in part because he won’t trust anyone, and so gets cheated all the time. The monster is at it’s best before we see it; the effects of it when seen fully are unconvincing.

Watch This: Grimy crime/monster film with some tense scenes
Don’t Watch This: You don’t like gory monster films or monster films where the monster disappoints