Q

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Q

R

Released Oct 29, 1982

1h 33m

Horror

Sci-Fi

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Tomatometer

Popcornmeter

72%

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29 Reviews

43%

Popcornmeter

2,500+ Ratings

A fleeing gangland flunky (Michael Moriarty) finds the New York nest of Aztec deity Quetzalcoatl, the man-eating flying serpent.

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Critics Consensus

Q's campy charms may be lost on audiences who want their monsters frightening, but a game cast and lovingly retrograde visual effects give this kaiju romp some majesty.

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Scott Tobias

The Dissolve

While Q won't give anyone nightmares, there's a throwback charm to it that honors Japanese monster movies more authentically than an expensive Hollywood production ever could.

Rated: 4/5

Aug 27, 2013

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Pat Graham

Chicago Reader

Cohen's obviously having fun with the cheesy clay animation, and Michael Moriarty delivers an inspired, whacked-out performance as a small-time operater who tries to turn the monster into his own private bonanza, but the rest... is disengaged and sloppy.

Mar 28, 2007

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Time Out

We have no hesitation in awarding Oscars all round.

Jan 26, 2006

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Ray Pride

Newcity

The kind of grubby, berserk movie that roared in the ruins of the Loop movie palaces of its time, then the fleapit neighborhood dollar houses that then dotted the city.

Rated: 6/10

Aug 16, 2022

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Eddie Harrison

film-authority.com

Q-The Winged Serpent is just the tonic to make even the most jaded film-goer admit that theres absolutely nothing else quite like this out there

Rated: 3/5

Feb 26, 2022

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Josiah Teal

Film Threat

I highly recommend this to the legions of monster and cult movie fans. It is a fantastic midnight double-feature to complement any of your classic camp favorites.

Rated: 8.5/10

Mar 11, 2021

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Nick O

A kaiju monster flick set to the backdrop of New York City the only way Larry Cohen knows how to do it…tough and gritty!

Rated 5 out of 5 stars

06/03/25

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Justin T

This film is pretty boring really. Not that much happens except for a few people getting killed off by a giant flying reptile. It is not that exciting by a long shot. The only good bits are the bits where you see the monster properly and they are only good because they are really tacky and so badly done that it is funny. Nothing looks real in this. It is slow and dull to watch. The whole idea is far better than the film. The script is awful and the actors really don't seem to care. I would recommend avoiding this one like you would avoid a giant flying dragon dinosaur whatever thing.

Rated 1 out of 5 stars

02/02/24

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Ricardo d

Fraco, efeitos de stop-motion que não dão credibilidade, lembram filmes orientais de monstros. Pouca coisa se salva neste filme.

Rated 1 out of 5 stars

04/10/23

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Audience Member

Ha! That's how you start a horror/creature flick! I've got Carradine & Roundtree doing the tired cop gig, Moriarty doing sweaty crim and a fuckoff big stop motion flying reptile. What more could you want? Blood from the sky. Victims skinned for sacrifice. It's got the lot - a wee dig at politics, at the media, loving portrayal of NY, a top central performance and a gentle tribute/mickey take of the great creature features of the past.

Rated 3.5 out of 5 stars

01/26/23

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Matthew D

I love the contrast between the campy monster effects and the genuinely good acting, with a script that seems to play it straight while also winking. Somehow it all works because Larry Cohen is a unsung genius.

Rated 4.5 out of 5 stars

08/12/21

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Audience Member

Fun b movie with a cool noir/crime story backbone built in to sustain the cheesiness of the creature movie predictability. Good performances by the cast guarantee a perfect late night/cult movie.

Rated 3.5 out of 5 stars

02/07/23

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Larry Cohen

Director

Michael Moriarty

Jimmy Quinn

David Carradine

Detective Shepard

Candy Clark

Joan

Richard Roundtree

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John Capodice

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Synopsis

A fleeing gangland flunky (Michael Moriarty) finds the New York nest of Aztec deity Quetzalcoatl, the man-eating flying serpent.

Director: Larry Cohen
Producer: Larry Cohen
Screenwriter: Larry Cohen
Distributor: Anchor Bay Entertainment, Blue Underground
Production Co: Universal Pictures
Rating: R
Genre: Horror, Sci-Fi
Original Language: English
Release Date (Theaters): Oct 29, 1982, Wide
Release Date (Streaming): Oct 15, 2013
Runtime: 1h 33m
Sound Mix: Stereo
Aspect Ratio: Flat (1.85:1)

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