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Stone Cold Dead

  • 19791979
  • RR
  • 1h 48m
IMDb RATING
5.2/10
494
YOUR RATING
POPULARITY
19,378
1,177
Stone Cold Dead (1979)
Sergeant Boyd's police search to find a sniper who has been shooting hookers.
Play trailer2:22
1 Video
14 Photos
CrimeThriller
Sergeant Boyd's police search to find a sniper who has been shooting hookers.Sergeant Boyd's police search to find a sniper who has been shooting hookers.Sergeant Boyd's police search to find a sniper who has been shooting hookers.
IMDb RATING
5.2/10
494
YOUR RATING
POPULARITY
19,378
1,177
  • See more at IMDbPro
    • Director
      • George Mendeluk
    • Writers
      • Hugh Garner(novel "The Sin Sniper")
      • George Mendeluk
    • Stars
      • Richard Crenna
      • Paul Williams
      • Linda Sorensen
    Top credits
    • Director
      • George Mendeluk
    • Writers
      • Hugh Garner(novel "The Sin Sniper")
      • George Mendeluk
    • Stars
      • Richard Crenna
      • Paul Williams
      • Linda Sorensen
  • See production, box office & company info
    • 11User reviews
    • 9Critic reviews

    Videos1

    Trailer
    Trailer 2:22
    Trailer

    Photos14

    Stone Cold Dead (1979)
    Paul Williams in Stone Cold Dead (1979)
    Richard Crenna in Stone Cold Dead (1979)
    Gail Dahms-Bonine in Stone Cold Dead (1979)
    Stone Cold Dead (1979)
    Richard Crenna and Chuck Shamata in Stone Cold Dead (1979)
    Stone Cold Dead (1979)
    Richard Crenna in Stone Cold Dead (1979)
    Stone Cold Dead (1979)
    Stone Cold Dead (1979)
    Stone Cold Dead (1979)
    Stone Cold Dead (1979)

    Top cast

    Edit
    Richard Crenna
    Richard Crenna
    • Sgt. Boyd
    Paul Williams
    Paul Williams
    • Julius Kurtz
    Linda Sorensen
    Linda Sorensen
    • Monica Page
    Belinda Montgomery
    Belinda Montgomery
    • Sandy MacAuley
    • (as Belinda J. Montgomery)
    Chuck Shamata
    Chuck Shamata
    • Sgt. Tony Colabre
    • (as Charles Shamata)
    Alberta Watson
    Alberta Watson
    • Olivia Page
    Andrée Cousineau
    Andrée Cousineau
    • Bernice Carnival
    Monique Mercure
    Monique Mercure
    • Dr. Bouvier
    George Chuvalo
    George Chuvalo
    • Frank
    Jennifer Dale
    Jennifer Dale
    • Claudia Grissom
    Frank Moore
    Frank Moore
    • Teddy Mann
    George Touliatos
    George Touliatos
    • Insp. Webb
    Dennis Strong
    • Danny De Lion
    Miles Potter
    Marie Clark
    Sylvia Marie Llewellyn
      Jack Van Evera
      Jack Van Evera
      Yanci Bukovec
      • Director
        • George Mendeluk
      • Writers
        • Hugh Garner(novel "The Sin Sniper")
        • George Mendeluk
      • All cast & crew
      • Production, box office & more at IMDbPro

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      Storyline

      Edit

      Did you know

      Edit
      • Trivia
        Several actual strippers and prostitutes play small roles in this film.
      • Goofs
        Obvious red ring around Paul Williams' left ring finger left by the actor's wedding band. His character is single.
      • Quotes

        Julius Kurtz: Oh, hello, officers. I see the Mayor's annual clean up campaign is in full swing. I must commend him in the morning.

        Sgt. Boyd: [the other officer starts to frisk him] Alright, take it easy, take it easy.

        Julius Kurtz: [the officer finds a gun] Voila! Magique - ze gun permit. Signed by the Mayor.

        Sgt. Boyd: Pimp!

        Julius Kurtz: No, no, not really, more of a traffic cop. I mean I direct people to things that they're looking for. For this, they love me. Mason, here, he prays for me. Would you like Mason to pray for you? He'd do that you know - if I ask. He will also tear you in two like the losing ticket at a track, if I ask. Have a nice night, Boyd. And don't be too rough on the ladies, huh?

      • Alternate versions
        The 1980 Dimension Pictures U.S. release added an opening sequence in which a prostitute, played by a young Linnea Quigley, is shot to death in her shower. This is also intact on the original VHS release by Media Home Entertainment, but not the original Canadian version.
      • Connections
        Featured in Stone Cold Dead: An Interview with George Mendeluk (2017)
      • Soundtracks
        The Fire Down Below
        performed and composed by Bob Seger

        courtesy of Capitol Records

      User reviews11

      Review
      Top review
      Smile for the sniper rifle
      A crazed sniper is killing prostitutes in Toronto. Using a camera mounted on the rifle, the victims are photographed as they're gunned down. Boyd (Richard Crenna) is a police sergeant who suspects high-level (but physically diminutive) pimp, Julius Kurtz (Paul Williams), of being behind the slayings. Harboring an intense distaste for Kurtz, Boyd would like nothing more than to lock him up and throw away the key, but are these cases ever that easy?

      "Stone Cold Dead" is a grimy amalgamation of giallo, crime drama and exploitation archetypes. The sniper's appearance and M.O. are straight out of a giallo, as is the terrific music that pops up whenever they're in action. I also loved the scenes in the culprit's darkroom, whispering voices running rampantly through a damaged psyche. The addition of the camera mount to shoot pictures and bullets at the same time is certainly an inspired touch. Psychological aspect aside, it ensures that the various murder scenes lack a feeling of repetition.

      The atmosphere of the film is one of grunge and decay. Lensed in a cold, distant style suiting the material, there's an ample amount of sleaze on display as we're treated to the underbelly of Toronto. Kurtz dealing with his girls and Boyd's quest to bring him down get as much screen time as the hunt for the killer.

      Paul Williams gives a standout performance as Kurtz, a classy type who actually shows a level of compassion and respect for those under his employ. His character is supposed to be scum, yet I actually found him more likable than Crenna's hard-ass sergeant. Boyd isn't all bad, however, as he makes sure that his pet fish are taken care of when he's too busy to come home. How? By rigging up a contraption that feeds them when he calls his house. Genre favorite Michael Ironside shows up in one of the briefest roles ever as an ill-fated cop. Tease. I was going back and forth between two characters when it came to determining the sniper's identity. I managed to get it right about 15 minutes before the reveal. The revelation scene itself is a winner, as the individual playing the guilty party gives an impressive performance.

      While it isn't perfect, this seldom-seen little cheapie has a lot going for it, especially if you're into gialli. It's also quite similar in overall feel to another seedy Canadian flick from the period, "American Nightmare", only this one's actually worth watching!
      helpful•26
      3
      • Cujo108
      • Aug 10, 2010

      Details

      Edit
      • Release date
        • March 5, 1980 (United States)
      • Countries of origin
        • Canada
        • United States
      • Language
        • English
      • Also known as
        • Günahkâr Avcısı
      • Filming locations
        • Toronto, Ontario, Canada
      • Production companies
        • Ko-Zak Productions
        • Canadian Film Development Corporation (CFDC)
      • See more company credits at IMDbPro

      Box office

      Edit
      • Budget
        • CA$900,000 (estimated)
      See detailed box office info on IMDbPro

      Technical specs

      Edit
      • Runtime
        1 hour 48 minutes
      • Sound mix
        • Mono
      • Aspect ratio
        • 1.85 : 1

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