Naive and clean-cut young Vic Ajax (Reed Birney) has been sentenced to death in the electric chair for crimes he didn’t commit. The story unfolds in flashback as he walks to the chair, explaining his innocent involvement in murder.
Ernest Trend (Edward R. Pressman) is the joint owner of a Detroit-based security systems company who discovers that his partner Donald Odegard (Hamid Dana), is planning to sell the firm out from under his nose to Renaldo “The Heel” (Bruce Campbell).
He decides that the only solution is the removal of Odegard and duly approaches Crush (Paul L. Smith) and Arthur (Brion James) of Center City Exterminators (whose slogan is “We kill all sizes”). Unfortunately, their methods turn out to be a little too effective . . .
When Victor, a young technician installing security cameras in Trend’s apartment building, seems about to go back to the store, Trend distracts him and sends Victor on a quest to find his dream girl.
The dream girl is found in the form of Nancy (Sheree J. Wilson), who responds minimally to Vic but is enamoured of Renaldo.
Victor and several residents of the building – including Mrs Trend (Louise Lasser) – run afoul of the killers, and a seemingly random series of slapstick murders occur, for all of which Victor is ultimately blamed.
Nancy inevitably becomes a target and Vic saves her and kills the exterminators after a long comical fight sequence.
The flashback ends with Vic in the electric chair awaiting the switch to be pulled.
Meanwhile, an elaborate race sequence occurs in which Nancy, accompanied by several nuns, drives manically to the prison to prove Vic’s innocence.
Nancy arrives just in time and clears his name. The movie concludes with their marriage.
Co-writers Joel and Ethan Coen appear as newspaper photographers during the prison scenes.
The film was a flop at the box office, and director Sam Raimi has since cited the experience as one of the least favourite moments of his career.
Ernest Trend
Edward R. Pressman
Vic Ajax
Reed Birney
Helene Trend
Louise Lasser
Donald Odegard
Hamid Dana
Faron Crush
Paul L. Smith
Arthur Coddish
Brion James
Nancy
Sheree J. Wilson
Renaldo ‘The Heel’
Bruce Campbell
Officer Brennan
Richard Bright
Blind Man
Antonio Fargas
Mr Yarman
John Hardy
Colonel Rodgers
Emil Sitka
Jack Elroy
Hal Youngblood
Jack Elroy Jr
Sean Farley
Officer Garvey
Richard DeManincor
Director
Sam Raimi