Maniac Cop review

The other night I was conversing with a friend of mine about the rumored release of Maniac Cop 2! All this talk refueled my desire to re-watch the original that started it all. This film has sadly been overlooked or forgotten by many, which is truly a shame. It's a great film in true "B-movie" tradition.

The premise of the film is this:  A man in a cop uniform starts killing people in the streets of New York. A local cop named Jack Forrest is the prime suspect and he and his girlfriend set out to find the real killer and clear Forrest's name. While this may sound like a plot a crime drama, it is indeed a horror/thriller film. In addition, director William Lustig clearly knew his target audience and geared this film directly at them. It's apparent that this is a campy B-movie and instead of taking himself too seriously, he embraces this and weaves an entertaining movie that's well worth the watch.

The performances are what you would expect from a film like this. Bruce Campbell of Evil Dead and Burn Notice fame stars as Jack Forrest, our framed hero. His performance is spot on and quite subdued compared to his role in the Evil Dead trilogy. Campbell does have a few moments where he goes over the top but it flows with the story and his characters situation. Those who are true Bruce Campbell fans should definitely check out his performance in this film.

In addition to Mr.Campbell, Tom Atkins is also present here as Forrest's captain, Frank McCrae. Atkins is great as usual, which should come as no surprise. He's always reliable and his presence does add some much needed levity. Lauren Landon is also present as Campbell's love interest and she plays her part well. Not much is called for from her character, yet she still manages to make her character likable. Then we have Robert Z'Dar in the titular role and he is brilliantly cast. He plays the maniac wonderfully and creates an awesome villain. The fact that more people don't remember the "Maniac Cop" is a shame. While he's no Michael Myers or Freddy Krueger, he is definitely menacing and dishes out the psycho in spades.

Effect-wise, there isn't anything really over the top but what is displayed is executed well. Whatever prosthetics were used on Z'Dar were well done and while it may look slightly schlocky, there is something sinister and creepy about him.

In general, this film does build some suspense, there's a nice little mystery and a good dose of action thrown in. The film never really slows down or drags and we do become invested in the characters. All this makes for a truly enjoyable B-movie and it's well worth checking out. I would say this is a must for any Bruce Campbell or William Lustig fans (The man who also delivered this films sequel and the terrific Maniac!) or cult film fans in general. Don't let this film be forgotten! It deserves it's rightful place amongst other cult classics and it's our duty to keep it alive!

Highlight Scene: The showdown between Campbell and the Maniac Cop is a great example of 80's horror and action. Plus, we get to see the maniac in full, grotesque view.

Highlight Quote:  Security Guard- "You always take a leak with a gun in your hand? That's a good way to blow your balls off!"