Strong and Moving!

Plot so thin, it passes unnoticed.

The movie turns out to be a little better than the average. Starting from a romantic formula often seen in the cinema, it ends in the most predictable (and somewhat bland) way.

Through painfully honest and emotional moments, the movie becomes irresistibly relatable

The documentary is a classic cut for cut recollection of a truly unique and paramount figure in modern cinema. Larry Cohen if a frontiersman for the independent film community and "King Cohen" establishes this fact with informative and entertaining biography and interviews. The most value to this film comes in the form of first person accounts from Mr. Cohen himself offering back story to some truly monumental cult classic film and television projects given to us from his sheer genius of creativity. "King Cohen" keeps with the standard documentary format, but still manages to be compelling and entertaining beyond your typical shtick seen in DVD extras, or basic documentary styles. With a fangasm worthy amount of first person accounts and anidotes from Larry about his work, plus the exploration and acknowledgement of the volume of his genre-bending films, "King Cohen : The Wild World Of Filmmaker Larry Cohen" is a great documentary, one truly a long time coming - and decades in the making...and it's about time!

Greetings again from the darkness. "That's not the way it's done." Larry Cohen admits to having heard those words many times over the years, but in fact, it's an accurate description of his 6 decade career as a Producer-Director-Writer. Filmmaker Steve Mitchell serves up a biopic and career retrospective of Mr. Cohen, and kicks it off with Cohen fan director JJ Abrams telling a story about the IT'S ALIVE prop baby and crossing paths with the man himself. Larry Cohen might be described as a schlock movie maker known only to those who are drawn to B-movie horror films. But that would be an injustice to the man who sold his first script at age 17, was the creative force behind numerous TV series, and has been a successful screenwriter for the films he directed, and many he didn't. Walking us through a mostly chronological order of his life and career are Mr. Cohen himself, as well as numerous other industry folks ... plus his current and ex-wife. Mr. Cohen relays a story about his grandfather's wish to play the banjo, and how that story convinced young Larry that we was going to do what he wanted to do, and not be talked out of it. That turned into the mantra for his life and career. We learn that he was a talented and creative writer who only began making movies himself because he tired of other directors and producers messing up his work. Typically working with a very limited budget, Mr. Cohen mastered the art of guerilla filmmaking - "stealing scenes" when he had no authorization or permit to film. This includes a clip of Andy Kaufman joining an NYPD parade whilst dressed in full uniform. He also regularly filmed at his own house ... a beautiful home originally built by William Randolph Hearst.Filmmaker Mitchell generates a treasure trove of inside stories from such recognizable figures as actor Yaphet Kotto, who explains how BONE and BLACK CAESER started the Blaxploitation boom; legendary make-up and effects artist Rick Baker describing the IT'S ALIVE baby; actor Michael Moriarty speaks in reverent tones about his multiple collaborations with Cohen; Fred Williamson sparks a battle of egos in recollections of events; and Traci Lords, James Dixon, both of Cohen's wives, Mick Garris, Eric Roberts, and Robert Forster all add their flavor to the lore of working with Larry Cohen. Directors Joe Dante and Martin Scorsese speak to his influence and how credible the work is viewed by other filmmakers.Even more fascinating stories are presented as Cohen talks about working with the great film composer Bernard Hermann, and then the shock of losing his friend to an unexpected early passing. The Betty Ford story is also quite funny in how it relates to Cohen getting THE SECRET FILES OF J EDGAR HOOVER filmed at Quantico and at Hoover's home. There are also segments about Cohen's work with two cinematic legends - Sam Fuller and Bette Davis. Not many can match this diverse list throughout their career, and Larry Cohen just seems to accept it as doing what needs to be done.He is described as "the master of the premise" as he has no shortage of fresh ideas, and his name would likely be more well-known were he more interested in self-promotion. Instead, he concentrated on projects that were entertaining and profitable, and importantly, filled with social commentary and humor. His process of writing scripts in long-hand or dictating into a handheld recorder contrasts with today's technology, but it has not been detrimental to his daily writing. It's hard to know if this film works better as a treat for fans of Cohen's work or as an education for those unfamiliar. Mr. Cohen jokes that one film is not enough time to share all of his experiences. On second thought, he's not joking.**Note: Larry Cohen's younger sister was Ronni Chasen, the Hollywood publicist who was shot dead at a Beverly Hills traffic light in 2010.

Steve Mitchell has captured a wonderful piece of work revolving around one of cinemas greatest pieces of work as Mitchell takes us from the beginnings of Cohens career on TV in the 60s to his prolific work on Blaxsploitaion through the 70s and 80s to writing one of my favorites of the 90s (Phone Booth) by tackling each project one by one. We hear some really interesting stories from some of the guys who knew him best and get a real good personal loving look at Larry Cohen and his long spanning career.

I was asked to review King Cohen. The New documentary directed by Steve Mitchell. This was a labor of love. Never have I been so excited and blown away by a documentary. I grew up during the time of Mr. Cohen's reign at the box office. Larry is responsible for such classics including Bone, Black Caesar, It's Alive, Q: The Winged Serpent, and The Stuff. He was also jump started the Black exploitation films of the 1970s, and lil people know was the screenwriter for the Hollywood classic Phone Booth. He was also responsible for getting Kiether Sutherland to play the voice of the Sniper.His Black Exploitation movies were my favorite. I would run to see the double features down on the notorious strip on 42 ND st. Were these classics played. Black Ceaser and Hell up in Harlem starring the great Fred Williamson. He has inspired me so much and after watching this and the behind the scenes see he is a lot like me. His well known style of hit and run and lil prep while filming has become a staple of mine, There are behind the scenes which will keep everyone entertained.Steven explores so much of this Hollywood Icons life from his humble start as a young kid growing up in NY loving movies. He would sell stuff on the street and when he had enough money would spend the rest of the day at the movies. Those days movies ran all the time and you can easily spend all day at the theater. Which Larry Did. He would watch any type of movie and loved them all. They would kick him out when it got dark because of his young age. He knew at an early age he wanted to get into the movies. His next stage was a stand up comedian. Larry loved comedy and was a stand up for awhile. He loved being around people and creating material to perform. That lead to a writing job for TV shows after getting hired at a studio, After doing a few successful TV scripts most notably The Invaders. He started clashing creatively. He complained Directors were destroying his scripts. So he said time for him to start directing. His first movie was called Bone. Yaphet Kotto as a thief that breaks into a wealthy families home. He pushed the envelope with this one having a interracial sex scene which was very daring in the early 70;s. But this got me aware of this young filmmaker and had everyone interested. Larry's hey day was pre 911. Were he loved filming in his hometown of NYC. He would do things that you could not do nowadays. He had car chase in Halram. Chase scenes on on sidewalks, shootings on Manhattan streets. Chases in airports. These were all done with no permits or permission and just shot the day the scene was planned. Peoples reactions were real. It was his vision and his way. Nobody else could of pulled this off wit such success. While filming Q on top of the Chrysler building he had actual shoots out with blank shells falling from the top on to street level. These crazy shoots go the attention of the police and were questioned and made the news. Larry most notable entry in the horror genre was the Its alive trilogy most notable the original. It was the scariest and most popular horror series of the days. Even more scary than a lil movie competing against it at the time called The Exorcist. I could gush on and on about this wonderful documentary but want you to see for ourselves. The makes make it like your hanging out with Larry for the day. You get to relax and hear all about his humble beginnings to the present day and the convention. Also what is on he horizon. Larry has the gift to entertain and and tell a story. This is the perfect platform. This is a film students bible on if you want to make a movie with balls follow the Larry Cohen way. Also to the film buffs out there that want to know everything about the King of B's. His story is told through live interviews just for the documentary in an around his lovely house/studio. There are interviews with past actors,producers and everyone else who helped him for-fill his dreams. Classics clips from the classic TV show Branded with Chuck Commons and the show that changed his life Invaders. Also famous stars and other Directors, Producers etc... Martin Scorsese, J.J. Abrams, John Landis, Michael Moriarty, Fred Williamson, Yaphet Kotto, Traci Lords, Eric Roberts, Eric Foster, Rick Baker, Eric Bogosian, Barbara Carrera, Joe Dante, Mick Garris, and many more. But the highlight is to hear Larry recollect the past! I was so happy to watch and when released will be adding this to my collection proudly. Thank you Larry Cohen for such a career and being such an inspiration.King Cohen begins its theatrical run July 27 in markets including Los Angeles and New York. Special event screenings of the film will also be held throughout July and August in cities including Asheville, VA and Yonkers,NY. Winner of the 2017 Fantasia Fest Best Documentary Feature Audience Award, King Cohen hails from Rondo Award-winning writer/director Steve Mitchell, whose film and television credits include co-writing the beloved cult horror/comedy Chopping Mall. King Cohen is a La-La Land Entertainment production, in association with Big And Tall Pictures and Off The Cliff Productions. It is directed and produced by Steve Mitchell and produced by Matt Verboys and Dan McKeon.