Dead Heat

Detective Roger Mortis is on the trail of a string of robberies when a burst of gunfire ends his life. A secret chemical company has developed a revival serum that pulls him back from the brink, but the second life comes with a ticking clock. He has twelve hours to solve the murder that killed him before the window closes for good. The case drops him into a fast paced chase across the city as he teams with a stubborn partner and a sharp witted scientist to follow a trail of clues linking the crimes to a shadowy conspiracy. Dead Heat blends horror, action and comedy into a brisk, pulpy ride that keeps the tempo high without losing sight of the investigation.

Directed by Mark Goldblatt and based on a concept by Terry Black, Dead Heat was released in 1988. The film leans on practical effects and snap dialogue to fuse horror with light hearted humor.

It earned a modest cult following thanks to Vincent Price s memorable cameo and the odd couple chemistry between Treat Williams and Joe Piscopo. The film is often cited by fans for its blend of jokes, gore and homage to classic genre cinema.

Critics viewed it as a brisk entertaining mash up that sometimes strains to get a laugh but rarely bogs down. It asks ethical questions about revival tech and second chances while delivering the kind of action packed humor that played well to midnight audiences.