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Two decapitated bodies, one swapped heads, zero chill in this '80s TV cop chaos.
TMDB
50

Doubletake (1985)

gritty network TV energycorrupt cop melodramaoverstuffed plot syndrome

Overview

ActionTV MovieThriller

Two corpses are found in different locations with their heads severed and exchanged. Frank Janek is called on to head the team of detectives investigating. Meanwhile, Janek is trying to find out why an old friend and colleague committed suicide, which eventually leads to a romantic situation with photographer Caroline Wallace and the discovery of some major corruption among his superiors, all of which has little or nothing to do with the murder story.

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Content warning

Standout Aspects

Acting

Richard Crenna's world-weary gravitas elevates every ridiculous scene.

Direction

Jud Taylor's competent TV craftsmanship keeps the chaos watchable.

Best for:Streaming: When you want '80s cop cheese without leaving your couch.·Solo: Late-night curiosity about forgotten TV movies.·Background: Fold laundry while Crenna furrows his brow dramatically.
Heads up:Violence: Decapitated corpses with swapped heads, shown in crime scene photos.·Emotional: Suicide of central character drives emotional subplot throughout.
Jud Taylor

Director

Jud Taylor

ReleasedNov 24, 1985
0
StatusReleased

Vibe

Pacesteady
Intensitymedium
Tonedark
Feelmedium
Titus Productions
Taft Entertainment Television

Top Cast

Richard Crenna

Richard Crenna

Frank Janek

Beverly D'Angelo

Beverly D'Angelo

Caroline Wallace

Vincent Baggetta

Vincent Baggetta

Sal Marchetti

Paul Gleason

Paul Gleason

Howie Henley

Cliff Gorman

Cliff Gorman

Aaron Greenberg

Drew Snyder

Drew Snyder

Stanger

Lee Richardson

Lee Richardson

Chief Jim Hart

Julie Bovasso

Julie Bovasso

Lou DiMona

Eddie Jones

Eddie Jones

Sweeney

Lois Smith

Lois Smith

Sarah

Tom Aldredge

Tom Aldredge

Glendon Lane

Priscilla Lopez

Priscilla Lopez

Nelly Gardato

Jeffrey DeMunn

Jeffrey DeMunn

Andrew Lane

Concetta Tomei

Concetta Tomei

Hazel Carter

Ask about Doubletake

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Deep Dive

Trivia, insights & behind the scenes

Trivia

This was one of three Frank Janek TV movies NBC churned out in the mid-'80s, hoping to launch a franchise that never quite clicked.

Cultural

Embodies peak '80s network TV movie aesthetics: grimy urban crime, saxophone-heavy score, and a hero whose personal life explodes while he's supposedly working.

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