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Crimewave
DVD Cover
Directed by	Sam Raimi
Produced by	Edward R. Pressman Irvin Shapiro
Written by	Ethan Coen Joel Coen Sam Raimi
Starring	Reed Birney Paul L. Smith Louise Lasser Brion James Sheree Wilson
Music by	Arlon Ober
Cinematography	Robert Primes
Editing by	Michael Kelly Kathie Weaver Kaye Davis
Distributed by	Universal Pictures
Release date(s)	April 12, 1985 July September 19 October 4 February 1986 February 20 April 25 June 22, 1987
Running time	83 min.
Country	U.S.A.
Language	English
Budget	$3,000,000 (estimated)
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IMDb profile

Crimewave is a 1985 film directed by Sam Raimi, a unusual slapstick mix of film noir, black comedy and several eras, starring Reed Birney, Paul L. Smith, Louise Lasser, Brion James, and Sheree Wilson. It was his first studio film following the success of The Evil Dead. The film is also known as The XYZ Murders in some parts of the world.

The director has publicly disowned the film due to numerous clashes with studio executives. The comedy (originally titled Broken Hearts And Noses or The XYZ Murders) was set to star Bruce Campbell, be edited by Kaye Davis, and be scored by Joseph LoDuca - all of which were changed by producers. Campbell actually has a small role (as Renaldo 'The Heel') and is listed as co-producer.

The Three Stooges inspired script was written by Joel and Ethan Coen (whom the director formerly met during post production of The Evil Dead) and contains a prison named Hudsucker. The brothers would go on to make the film The Hudsucker Proxy with Raimi and Campbell. The name also appears in their 1987 film Raising Arizona. Elements of Crimewave were also re-used by frequent Raimi collaborator Josh Becker for the movie Lunatics: A Love Story, as well as by Raimi himself in Spider-Man and its sequels. Much of the film's comedy derives from the combination of surprises with traditional, explicitly familiar gags.

The film's story concerns Victor Ajax (Reed Birney), a young technician in the employ of Trend-Odegard Security. Mr. Trend, co-owner of the company (Edward R. Pressman), has learned of a plan by his partner to sell the company to Renaldo "The Heel" (Bruce Campbell) and responds by hiring two exterminators who promise to "kill all sizes" (Brion James and Paul Smith) in order to eliminate Odegard and his plan. When Vic, who has been installing security cameras in Trend's apartment building, seems about to go back to the store, Trend distracts him with a lecture about "the grand design" and sends Vic on a quest to find his dream girl. The dream girl spontaneously materializes in the form of Nancy (Sheree J. Wilson), who responds minimally to Vic but is enamored of Renaldo. Victor and several residents of the building including Mrs. Trend (Louise Lasser, top-billed) run afoul of the killers and a seemingly random series of slapstick murders ensues, which is ultimately pinned on Victor. The movie is framed by Vic's journey to the electric chair for the crimes as Nancy, accompanied by several nuns, races to the scene in order to clear him.

Raimi's trademarks are here including his 1973 Oldsmobile Delta 88 (which has virtually a starring role) and younger brother Ted Raimi. Noted Hollywood producer Edward R. Pressman also plays a pivotal role.

Bruce Campbell documents some of the production in his autobiography If Chins Could Kill: Confessions of a B Movie Actor

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Crimewave

• Crimewave at the Internet Movie Database