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:

Cameo: [Jake LaMotta] [makes a brief cameo as a detective.]

Goofs:

Plot holes: It is explained that the severe beating/stabbing Cordell received while in prison caused him to lose "all higher brain function(s)". How does this make him impervious to gunshots and other injuries? This might make him unable to feel pain, but any injuries should eventually take their toll.

Quotes:

Parade reporter: And so this years St Patrick's Day parade continues on schedule, despite speculation the parade may have been cancelled due to fear of violence. Authorities report scores of death threats against the police, plus threats of bombings along the parade route. But this has not deterred a record crowd for turning out for New York's St Patrick's Day parade.
Parade reporter: [glances at spectacle] ... what a parade it is.

Movie Connections:

Referenced in "The Fresh Prince of Bel-Air: The Harder They Fall (#4.21)" (1994)

Soundtrack:

HELLO HEARTBREAK

Low budget and awesome.

Maniac Cop is a great exploitation film. It has some truly inspired moments. Bruce Campbell is great and the Maniac Cop himself is a worthy creation in the horror genre. Most people will avoid this and they shouldn't, because for the budget and limitations it's a great flick. Fix a nice big bowl of popcorn and enjoy a great horror cheapie.