Starting at his cinema obsessed childhood and working it’s way into his existence as a true legend of exploitation cinema; King Cohen: The Wild World of Film Maker Larry Cohen is a fascinating look into the life and times of a comedian turned Director (and Writer…and Producer) responsible for some of the greatest titles our beloved horror biz has to offer, such as: The It’s Alive Trilogy, The Stuff, Q: The Winged Serpent, God Told Me To and many more!
Over the course of an hour and forty seven minutes we take a break neck journey into just what it took to get Cohen’s legendary horror and Blaxploitation flicks to the silver screen including; filming cars driving down the sidewalks of New York City, simulated gun shots and film fights, daring stunts…all without planning, permits, or on lookers being clued in to the fact that a motion picture is being filmed. It’s guerrilla film making at it’s best, and infused Cohen’s gritty flicks with a kinetic energy a more carefully plotted out picture could never possess! Larry’s bravado and damn near insanity is extolled time and again by an dazzling assortment of interview subjects such as John Landis, Joe Dante, Rick Baker, Mick Garris, Martin Scorsese and many more that all give off the impression that they simply can not believe the shit Cohen has gotten away with in his career (and justifiably so)!
If there is a negative to be found with King Cohen it’s that the film will make you a bit remorseful that ol’ Larry hasn’t done more in our beloved genre as of late. I for one would like to see him come thunderin’ back to the fright flick game and deliver more off-kilter creature craziness!
King Cohen is fast paced, never dull, and most importantly inspirational (if you have any aspirations to work in the independent horror biz especially); you’ll laugh, your jaw will doubtless hit the floor on more than one occasion, and you’ll gain a real appreciation for what it took to bring some of your favorite Drive-In flicks to vivid, violent, life!
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