Writer. Producer. Director. Maverick, King Cohen!

King Cohen: The Wild World of Filmmaker Larry Cohen

2017 | PG-13 | 1hr 50 Min | Documentary | Dark Star Pictures

Director: Steve Mitchell

Writer: Steve Mitchell

Stars: 

J.J. Abrams

Rick Baker

Eric Bogosian

Synopsis:

Buckle up for King-Cohen, the true story of writer, producer, director, creator, and all-around maverick, Larry Cohen (Black Caesar, God Told Me To, Q: The Winged Serpent, The Stuff). Told through compelling live interviews, stills and film/TV clips, the people who helped fulfill his vision, and industry icons such as Martin Scorsese, John Landis, Michael Moriarty, Fred Williamson, Yaphet Kotto and many more, including Larry himself, bring one-of-a-kind insight into the work, process and legacy of a true American film auteur. Few can boast of a career as remarkable or prolific, spanning more than 50 years of entertaining audiences worldwide!

Being a product of the '80s and growing up during the amazing time of VHS Larry Cohen played a big part of that. Outside of the obvious hit The Stuff some of his other crazy flicks that filled the shelves of rental stores everywhere where Full Moon High, Manic Cop, and Perfect Strangers Cohen filled this young teenager small screen with some of the best schlock on those cold and snowy weekends.  

What I did not know about Cohen was that he filmed a lot of scenes without permission as he became one of the best at guerrilla style film making. Those stories alone make this documentary a fun watch. 

It's Alive 1974

One of my first Cohen memories is a little foggy because it lands around 1974 with It's Alive. But as I write this I wonder if it was more the sequel from 1978 It Lives Again. See I remember it was date night from my Mom and Dad and I remember Dad not too happy that Mom and their friends picked a movie about a killer baby. Dad was quite conservative as mom was all about the thrill of horror movies. But somehow I remember my grandma coming over to watch me as they went on this journey, and being only four at the time. As for my folks to talk about a horror movie like that really sticks out in my mind. Hell, I could even tell you who they went with.

It's Lives Again 1978

Never the less if you have seen even one of his many movies or TV shows this Documentary is a fast-paced fun watch. I enjoyed how the first act played out over his TV career with hits like The Fugitive and The Rat Patrol along with newer shows like NYPD Blue to his first break on the big screen with Bone Larry Cohen has had one hell of a ride!

3 Bloody Brains out of 5