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Dead Heat

  • 1988
  • R
  • 1h 24m
IMDb RATING
6.1/10
9.9K
YOUR RATING
Treat Williams and Joe Piscopo in Dead Heat (1988)
Trailer for Dead Heat
Play trailer1:07
2 Videos
99+ Photos
Dark ComedyParodyZombie HorrorActionComedyHorrorSci-FiThriller

A cop is killed investigating a strange case of resurrected corpses. His partner and a pathologist resurrect him, but he only has a limited time before he starts to decompose, and he uses it... Read allA cop is killed investigating a strange case of resurrected corpses. His partner and a pathologist resurrect him, but he only has a limited time before he starts to decompose, and he uses it to chase down the diabolical man who killed him.A cop is killed investigating a strange case of resurrected corpses. His partner and a pathologist resurrect him, but he only has a limited time before he starts to decompose, and he uses it to chase down the diabolical man who killed him.

  • Director
    • Mark Goldblatt
  • Writer
    • Terry Black
  • Stars
    • Treat Williams
    • Joe Piscopo
    • Lindsay Frost
  • See production info at IMDbPro
  • IMDb RATING
    6.1/10
    9.9K
    YOUR RATING
    • Director
      • Mark Goldblatt
    • Writer
      • Terry Black
    • Stars
      • Treat Williams
      • Joe Piscopo
      • Lindsay Frost
    • 97User reviews
    • 81Critic reviews
  • See production info at IMDbPro
    • Awards
      • 1 nomination total

    Videos2

    Dead Heat
    Trailer 1:07
    Dead Heat
    Dead Heat
    Trailer 2:03
    Dead Heat
    Dead Heat
    Trailer 2:03
    Dead Heat

    Photos207

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    + 201
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    Top cast40

    Edit
    Treat Williams
    Treat Williams
    • Roger Mortis
    Joe Piscopo
    Joe Piscopo
    • Doug Bigelow
    Lindsay Frost
    Lindsay Frost
    • Randi James
    Darren McGavin
    Darren McGavin
    • Dr. Ernest McNab
    Vincent Price
    Vincent Price
    • Arthur P. Loudermilk
    Clare Kirkconnell
    Clare Kirkconnell
    • Rebecca Smythers
    Keye Luke
    Keye Luke
    • Mr. Thule
    Robert Picardo
    Robert Picardo
    • Lieutenant Herzog
    Mel Stewart
    Mel Stewart
    • Captain Mayberry
    Professor Toru Tanaka
    Professor Toru Tanaka
    • Butcher
    Martha Quinn
    Martha Quinn
    • Newscaster
    Ben Mittleman
    • Bob
    Peter Kent
    Peter Kent
    • Smitty
    Cate Caplin
    Cate Caplin
    • Saleswoman
    Monica Lewis
    Monica Lewis
    • Mrs. Von Heisenberg
    Peggy O'Brien
    • Jewelry Store Manager
    Chip Heller
    • Wilcox
    Steven R. Bannister
    Steven R. Bannister
    • The Thing
    • Director
      • Mark Goldblatt
    • Writer
      • Terry Black
    • All cast & crew
    • Production, box office & more at IMDbPro

    User reviews97

    6.19.8K
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    Featured reviews

    Gislef

    The Ultimate Buddy Movie?

    Takes the buddy movie to new heights, at any rate. Other than one of the cops is dead, it pretty much plays out like a standard cop/buddy movie. So much so that it's unintentionally funny. That, and the script taking the logic of resurrection to logic conclusions (like in the Chinatown butcher shop), makes for a hilarious pic. We also have horror veterans like Vincent Price, Darren McGavin (Kolchak/Night Stalker) and Keye Luke along for the ride. Check it out if you get a chance.
    10pwargo

    Better than you would think.

    I saw this movie back in 1988 when it came out, and recently we bought the DVD on a whim. Neither Chandra or I remembered much about it, but we both enjoyed it more than we expected. The FX hold up well, even 16 years later, and it's just an enjoyable film.

    There are some gross bits (which makes it better!), but there were some good scenes deleted - make sure you check the DVD for the extra scenes, The "death day dream" really ties in some of the disjointed bits in the movie.

    True, some of the film is very dated 80's, but it still makes me grin. Take a chance and you might enjoy it too.
    8chrissoda100

    Dumb, but great fun

    OK! Lets get one thing straight right now. If you're looking for a serious movie about cops v robbers a la Robert de Niro, Al Pacino or something similar this is not the place to come.

    If on the other hand you want an action packed, leave your brain in the lobby, tongue in cheek zombie flick, with a side order of buddy-cops take on dastardly criminals thrown in then you aren't going to get much better than this.

    Cops Mortis (Treat Williams) and Bigelow (Joe Piscopo) are on the trail of nutty old Vincent Price (unfortunately not given much screen time) bringing dead criminals back to life so they can carry out jewellery store robberies. Of course being dead already makes it a tad difficult for the police to kill them.

    Mortis comes a cropper fairly early on, but worry not as he is soon resurrected with the regeneration machine found at the dodgy research company that they think might be connected with the crimes.

    The only problem is Mortis now has only twelve hours to solve the case before he decomposes, so things move on at a fair old pace after this as the lads do battle with various zombies, and a Chinese butchers shop full of meat that comes back to life!

    Great fun for fans of 'Braindead' or 'The Evil Dead' style horrors, and anyone else who wants a film that they don't have to take to seriously. Also stands up well to repeated viewing.

    8/10 I say, but judging by some of the other IMBD reviews others wouldn't (boring gits!)
    8Ford_Maverick

    The greatest zombie cop, buddy movie ever!

    I'll warn you, this is a very cheesy film. It's full of bad jokes and bad acting, but it's a guilty pleasure of mine. It's hailed, primarily by me, as the single greatest zombie-cop, buddy movie ever made. It is hailed by a fair number of those I have subjected to it as the worst movie they've ever seen. I can admit it, it's not Shakespeare, but if you like cheesy 80's horror and watered down pseudo-Lovecraft or even, *shudder* Joe Piscopo, then I encourage you to give it a try.
    6BaronBl00d

    Fast-paced, Fun Horror-Action Film

    Perhaps the only time zombies, cops, and a generous dose of humour have been infused together on film. Dead Heat is a fun, drive-in type feature with Treat William and Joe Piscapo starring as two cops in the style of something seen in Lethal Weapon. These cops have not done everything by the book and are in the middle of a crime wave where a different pair of armed thugs have been robbing jewelry stores and banks in broad daylight with no fear of being shot down(or having the weakness of being killed with any ease at all). Well, through some investigation, our two protagonists discover that a machine exists that can bring back the dead for twelve hours - and one of the cops gets his and is placed on the machine. Now, we have zombie cop against zombie criminals and one silly, fun, action-packed film on hand. Director Mark Goldblatt never tries to make this film anything more than what it is supposed to be. The actors don't try either, which is good when you have a script that only has so much elasticity. Williams is good in his role, and Piscapo definitely has limited range, but I really thought he did a much better job than his lack of acting gigs since would suggest. One major plus is the core of veteran screen actors with Darren Mcgavin, venerable Keye Luke, and the elder statesman of horror Vincent Price in attendance. Price has a small role but is still able to keep your attention. This was one of his last films. The same for Luke who I always felt was very underrated. Lindsay Frost is aboard as major eye candy. The special effects are interesting to say the least. The make-up used on the criminal zombies has a fake feel like big puppets at some points and at others is pretty good. The scene in a Chinese restaurant is a hoot - a very ridiculous hoot. Dead Heat again is nothing grand or thought-provoking or even scary, but it is a very fun film and should illicit a few laughs.

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    Related interests

    Phoebe Waller-Bridge and Sian Clifford in Fleabag (2016)
    Dark Comedy
    Bill Pullman, John Candy, Joan Rivers, Daphne Zuniga, and Lorene Yarnell Jansson in Spaceballs (1987)
    Parody
    Pedro Pascal in Long, Long Time (2023)
    Zombie Horror
    Bruce Willis in Die Hard (1988)
    Action
    Will Ferrell in Anchorman: The Legend of Ron Burgundy (2004)
    Comedy
    Mia Farrow in Rosemary's Baby (1968)
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    Thriller

    Storyline

    Edit

    Did you know

    Edit
    • Trivia
      The building used for Dante Pharmaceuticals is also the set of the movie Bio-Dome 8 years later.
    • Goofs
      When Roger is examined by Rebecca after his resurrection, he cuts himself and does not bleed as he is found to have no pulse. Later he is shot and bleeds from his wounds, which contradicts his earlier examination.
    • Quotes

      Randi James: Hey, you're hurt.

      Det. Roger Mortis: Lady, I'm fucking dead.

    • Alternate versions
      The film suffered numerous cuts to the gore in order to receive an "R" rating instead of an "X".
    • Connections
      Edited into Cent une tueries de zombies (2012)
    • Soundtracks
      Dead Heat
      Written by John Huckert (as John W. Huckert Jr.), Patrick Read Johnson & Phil Settle (as Philip J. Settle)

      Performed by Phil Settle

      Copyright © 1987 by: Sarah Beth Songs BMI

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    FAQ19

    • How long is Dead Heat?Powered by Alexa
    • What are the differences between the Original Version and the Extended Version?

    Details

    Edit
    • Release date
      • May 6, 1988 (United States)
    • Country of origin
      • United States
    • Language
      • English
    • Also known as
      • Zombi detektiv
    • Filming locations
      • Japanese Garden, Donald C. Tillman Water Reclamation Plant - 6100 Woodley Avenue, Van Nuys, Los Angeles, California, USA(As Dante Pharmaceuticals. Interior/ exterior shots.)
    • Production companies
      • New World Pictures
      • Helpern / Meltzer
    • See more company credits at IMDbPro

    Box office

    Edit
    • Budget
      • $5,000,000 (estimated)
    • Gross US & Canada
      • $3,588,626
    • Opening weekend US & Canada
      • $1,667,036
      • May 8, 1988
    • Gross worldwide
      • $3,588,626
    See detailed box office info on IMDbPro

    Tech specs

    Edit
    • Runtime
      • 1h 24m(84 min)
    • Color
      • Color
    • Sound mix
      • Dolby Stereo
    • Aspect ratio
      • 1.85 : 1

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