Crimewave

PG-13

1985

1 hr. 23 min.

Comedy

List

57%

7 Reviews

Tomatometer

47%

2,500+ Ratings

Audience Score

Aware that partner Donald Odegard (Hamid Dana) wants to sell their security firm, Ernest Trend (Edward R. Pressman) hires Arthur Coddish (Brion James) and Faron Crush (Paul L. Smith) to kill him. The hit men get the job done, but they go too far, killing others in the process. Finding himself in the wrong place at the wrong time, security firm employee Victor Ajax (Reed Birney) is charged with the murders, but his new friend, Nancy (Sheree J. Wilson), intends to prove he's innocent.

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Steve D

Just because it doesn't take itself seriously does not mean it is funny.

Rated 1 out of 5 stars

08/27/23

Full Review

Bill T

Seeing this again after who knows how long, and I have to say I probably enjoyed twice as much as the first time, because I sort of... get it? What I mean by that is that, and correct me if I'm wrong, but this is Raimi's salute to the animation pioneers The Fleischer Brothers, more specifically Betty Boop.. But not Betty Boop specifically, there was a side character named Bimbo who, I swear, Reed Birney, who plays the lead, designed his character on. So many mannerisms and dialogue I can trace from these cartoons. The movie is totally a mile a minute slapstick, one liners and hilarious cartoon violence. It's great.

Rated 4 out of 5 stars

03/13/23

Full Review

Audience Member

[⭐️36%] Crimewave (1985) is a difficult film to review as on one hand it perfects most things it is going for, but on the other isn't entirely enjoyable. Sam Raimi's slapstick style does allow for some amusing moments, however the editing ruins momentum and after a while the jokes get exhausting. To begin with the amount of the other the top acting and humour was somewhat entertaining, but it quickly became annoying and uncomfortable to watch at times. It is certainly an experience watching Crimewave (1985), and while there is some fun the overall product is annoying and messy. It is a sign of a young director at the time as their were many things which needed fixing.

Rated 2 out of 5 stars

01/14/23

Full Review

Audience Member

exists to spawn EDII.... so... whatever

Rated 3.5 out of 5 stars

01/31/23

Full Review

Audience Member

Creative, wacky schlock. At points it overdoes it with the gonzo factor, but fits neatly alongside a lot of similar 70s/80s comedy at the time by/featuring artists such as Steve Martin, Terry Gilliam, Mel Brooks, Gene Wilder or Richard Pryor. A loving pastiche of classic Hollywood caper movies, with a deliberate and laboured cartoonish/slapstick tint, the kind where every shot is poised to raise an eyebrow due its clownishness. Pros: Breakneck and enduringly creative execution and a lack of pretension in presentation. Truly a gag a shot kind of movie. Cons: The exhaustive nature of pros.

Rated 3.5 out of 5 stars

01/18/23

Full Review

david a

I guess if you're REALLY into this genre, it might be good, but I switched it off after 20 minutes.

Rated 1.5 out of 5 stars

03/31/23

Full Review

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Sam Raimi

Director

Louise Lasser

Helene Trend

Paul L. Smith

Faron Crush

Brion James

Arthur Coddish

Sheree J. Wilson

Nancy

Edward R. Pressman

Ernest Trend

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Nicholas Royle

Time Out

Despite its ambition and a Coen Brothers script credit, Raimi's second film was a disappointment after his astonishing debut The Evil Dead.

Oct 19, 2020

Full Review

Vincent Canby

New York Times

It's of principal interest as an example of the kind of film likely to be made by young people who, though they have talent and enthusiasm, haven't yet any distinctively personal point of view.

Oct 15, 2020

Full Review

Kim Newman

Empire Magazine

Bizarre and entertaining little film that deserves a look.

Rated: 3/5

Oct 15, 2020

Full Review

Rob Gonsalves

Rob's Movie Vault

Uneven but mostly entertaining send-up of old crime movies. You do have to stick with it for about half an hour before it starts getting good.

Rated: B

Dec 2, 2022

Full Review

Dennis Schwartz

Dennis Schwartz Movie Reviews

A strange but not funny spoof of hitmen that disappoints because the comedy is too simplistic.

Rated: B-

Feb 9, 2015

Full Review

Pablo Villaça

Cinema em Cena

Raimi exibe a mesma energia ensandecida de Evil Dead, arrancando algumas risadas justamente graas ao volume e ao histrionismo de sua direo (e tambm, em parte, em funo do roteiro amalucado dos irmos Coen).

Rated: 3/5

Apr 27, 2009

Full Review

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Synopsis

Aware that partner Donald Odegard (Hamid Dana) wants to sell their security firm, Ernest Trend (Edward R. Pressman) hires Arthur Coddish (Brion James) and Faron Crush (Paul L. Smith) to kill him. The hit men get the job done, but they go too far, killing others in the process. Finding himself in the wrong place at the wrong time, security firm employee Victor Ajax (Reed Birney) is charged with the murders, but his new friend, Nancy (Sheree J. Wilson), intends to prove he's innocent.

Director: Sam Raimi
Rating: PG-13
Genre: Comedy
Original Language: English
Release Date (Streaming): Aug 20, 2021

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