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Philip Michael Thomas before Miami Vice—singing his way to rock bottom on angel dust.
TMDB
70
IMDb
52

Death Drug (1978)

grittycautionarylow-budget earnest

Overview

Drama

A young man in Los Angeles dreams of striking it big as a singer in the music business. One day he gets signed to a big record contract, but along with the fame and money he develops an addiction to the drug PCP.

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Content warning
drugsrecording contractpcp

Standout Aspects

Acting

Philip Michael Thomas commits hard to musical numbers and meltdowns.

Production

Genuine 70s LA locations cheaply captured on 16mm.

Best for:Solo: Late-night curiosity about pre-fame star vehicles.·Background: While researching 70s Blaxploitation-adjacent cinema.
Heads up:Drug Use: Extended PCP hallucination sequences, explicit addiction descent.·Disturbing: Graphic mental breakdown scene in hospital restraints.
Oscar Williams

Director

Oscar Williams

ReleasedJan 1, 1978
Runtime1h 13m
StatusReleased

Vibe

Pacesteady
Intensitymedium
Tonedark
Feelheavy

Top Cast

Philip Michael Thomas

Philip Michael Thomas

Jesse

Vernee Watson

Vernee Watson

Carolyn (as Verne Watson)

Rosalind Cash

Rosalind Cash

Doctor

Casey Biggs

Casey Biggs

Melvin

Larry McCormick

Larry McCormick

Newscaster

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Deep Dive

Trivia, insights & behind the scenes

Trivia

Philip Michael Thomas wrote and performed all songs himself, including the disco-funk title track that plays over the opening credits.

Cultural

Released during the peak 'angel dust panic' era, the film was marketed as educational despite its exploitation structure—common to 70s drug scare cinema.

YouTube

Death Drug - A Trashcan Cinema Trailer!

Death Drug - A Trashcan Cinema Trailer!

Gallery

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