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
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The flashback ends with Vic in the electric chair awaiting the switch to be pulled.
