Late Eighties Dirty Harry movie The Dead Pool is mainly remembered for a fledgling film appearance from Jim Carrey as a ridiculous rock star. And possibly in the future by a raft of home entertainment renters thinking they're going to watch a Ryan Reynolds flick. The plot concerned a sinister character bumping off celebrities in a bid to cash in on the infamous "dead pool" betting scheme. This pre-empted Hollywood deaths at the bookies, and some whack job was determined to ensure he cashed in. In addition to seeing Carrey suffer a premature heart attack (performed in his customary rubber-faced style) the other watchable aspect featured a remote control car as the explosive star. In a sequence that maybe belonged in another franchise a four-wheeled toy rigged to detonate was despatched to blow Harry "clean off" the freeway. As a result it's one of the most surreal chase scenes in history, courtesy of comically-named director Buddy Van Horn.
I am a journalist and comedian who enjoys American movies of the 70s, Amicus horror compendiums, Doctor Who, Twin Peaks, Naomi Watts and sitting down. My short fiction has been published as part of the Iris Wildthyme range from Obverse Books.
