Q

Jimmy Quinn is a small time gangster on the run after crossing the wrong people. He flees through the New York underworld while a police investigation tightens around him. In the city's shadowy corners he encounters a bizarre myth come to life, a winged, man-eating serpent that seems to stalk the streets at night. The encounter drags him into a strange crossfire between crime and ancient superstition, where cults and corrupt officials blur the lines between myth and reality. The film keeps the tension tight as Quinn and a handful of uneasy allies try to figure out what they are really chasing and whether the danger can be stopped.

Directed by Larry Cohen, Q premiered in 1982 as Cohen's original screenplay. It features Michael Moriarty, Candy Clark, David Carradine, and Richard Roundtree, and was produced on a lean budget of 1.2 million, blending crime drama with supernatural horror.

Box office data for Q is not widely reported, reflecting its low key release and cult status rather than blockbuster performance. The film remains better known to genre fans than to general audiences.

Although it flew under the mainstream radar, Q has earned a modest cult status among horror fans for its odd blend of gangland grit and mythic creature design. The movie is often cited in discussions of Larry Cohen's offbeat approach to genre and its willingness to push a lean budget into something memorable. Its practical monster work and urban mood make it a reference point for era cult creature features.

Reception and themes: Critics at release noted the uneasy mix of street crime and occult lore, with some praising the audacity while others found the film rough around the edges. The core themes blend corruption and fear in a city that feels both alive and hostile, showing how myth can spill into everyday violence. Cohen's lean production emphasizes mood over polish, making Q a bold step in 80s horror.