Two decapitated bodies, one swapped heads, zero chill in this '80s TV cop chaos.
Two corpses are found in different locations with their heads severed and exchanged. Frank Janek is called on to head the team of detectives investigating. Meanwhile, Janek is trying to find out why an old friend and colleague committed suicide, which eventually leads to a romantic situation with photographer Caroline Wallace and the discovery of some major corruption among his superiors, all of which has little or nothing to do with the murder story.
Acting
Richard Crenna's world-weary gravitas elevates every ridiculous scene.
Direction
Jud Taylor's competent TV craftsmanship keeps the chaos watchable.
Director
Jud Taylor
Richard Crenna
Frank Janek
Beverly D'Angelo
Caroline Wallace
Vincent Baggetta
Sal Marchetti
Paul Gleason
Howie Henley
Cliff Gorman
Aaron Greenberg
Drew Snyder
Stanger
Lee Richardson
Chief Jim Hart
Julie Bovasso
Lou DiMona
Eddie Jones
Sweeney
Lois Smith
Sarah
Tom Aldredge
Glendon Lane
Priscilla Lopez
Nelly Gardato
Jeffrey DeMunn
Andrew Lane
Concetta Tomei
Hazel Carter
Trivia, insights & behind the scenes
This was one of three Frank Janek TV movies NBC churned out in the mid-'80s, hoping to launch a franchise that never quite clicked.
Embodies peak '80s network TV movie aesthetics: grimy urban crime, saxophone-heavy score, and a hero whose personal life explodes while he's supposedly working.
US
