Maniac Cop (1988)

User Rating:

5.7/10   

Director:

William Lustig

Writer:

Larry Cohen (written by)

Release Date:

13 May 1988 (USA)

Genre:

Action | Crime | Horror | Thriller

Tagline:

You have the right to remain silent. Forever.

Plot:

In New York, a man in a cop's uniform starts killing people for no apparent reason.

Plot Keywords:

Uniform | Police | Woman's Neck Broken | Adultery | St. Patrick's Day

Cast

Tom Atkins	...	Frank McCrae
Bruce Campbell	...	Jack Forrest
Laurene Landon	...	Theresa Mallory
Richard Roundtree	...	Commissioner Pike
William Smith	...	Capt. Ripley
Robert Z'Dar	...	Matt Cordell
Sheree North	...	Sally Noland
Nina Arvesen	...	Regina Sheperd (as Nina Aversen)
Nick Barbaro	...	Councilman
Lou Bonacki	...	Det. Lovejoy
Barry Brenner	...	Coroner
Victoria Catlin	...	Ellen Forrest
James Dixon	...	Clancy
Corey Michael Eubanks	...	Bremmer
Jill Gatsby	...	Cassie Phillips

Runtime:

85 min | USA:91 min (DVD version) | Canada:88 min (DVD version)

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Color:

Color

Aspect Ratio:

1.85 : 1

Sound Mix:

Ultra Stereo

Certification:

Singapore:NC-16 | Iceland:16 | West Germany:18 (video premiere) | Finland:K-16 (cut) (video premiere) | Finland:K-18 (uncut) | Canada:13+ (Quebec) | Australia:R | France:-12 | Norway:18 (video premiere) | UK:18 | USA:R | Germany:BPjM Restricted

Filming Locations:

Los Angeles, California, USA

Company:

Shapiro-Glickenhaus Home Video

Trivia:

The Coroner (Barry Brenner) was William Lustig's real-life doctor.

Goofs:

Continuity: During the climactic Pier 14 sequence, Cordell's extensive facial scarring is only seen in close-ups. In all the medium shots his face is clearly unscathed.

Quotes:

Sally Noland: He knows! He knows! He knows I'm no good to him!

Movie Connections:

Referenced in Past Perfect (1996)

Soundtrack:

HISTORY HALL

Swell B - movie slasher thriller hybrid

Maniac Cop is a splendid little late eighties cult item, with one of the mightiest killers of any slasher. The maniac cop is truly imposing as he goes about his brutal business, with a realistic sense of authority and a good back story too. The acting is quality across the board, with veterans such as Tom Atkins, Bruce Campbell giving their all, as well as fine work by Sheree North and a cameo by Richard Roundtree. The script by legend Larry Cohen is top notch, with unpredictable twists and turns, good dialogue and an interesting sense of urban paranoia. The direction for the most part is ace too, with many tense and creepy moments, and some good meaness to some of the kills. The only quibbles I had with this one were that the ending is a little weak and it could definitely have been gorier. Neither are problems that stop this from being a fine watch for horror or eighties thriller fans though and I still heartily recommend it.