Before the cult classic The Hudsucker Proxy, Sam Raimi and the Coen Brothers collaborated on an even earlier genre pastiche: Crimewave. While often dismissed in both filmmakers' filmographies, this 1985 film is not as bad as its reputation suggests.
Crimewave combines slapstick comedy, film noir, and graphic violence in a story about a hapless inventor and a femme fatale. Despite its chaotic production and mixed reception, the movie showcases the distinctive styles that would later define Raimi's Evil Dead series and the Coens' Blood Simple. Bursting with visual flair and absurd humor, it remains an intriguing footnote in the careers of three legendary directors.