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Maniac Cop

Play trailer Poster for Maniac Cop R,  1988,  1h 25m,  Horror Play Trailer Watchlist
Watchlist 53% 17 Reviews Tomatometer 41% 5,000+ Ratings Popcornmeter
53% Tomatometer 17 Reviews 41% Popcornmeter 5,000+ Ratings
Two New York policemen (Tom Atkins, Bruce Campbell) and a policewoman (Laurene Landon) search for a killer in uniform who should be dead.

Critics Reviews

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Noel Murray AV Club Oct 5, 2018
B-
It's too often a routine '80s genre piece, straight down to the synthesizer score, over-lit night scenes, and bandana-sporting street punks. Go to Full Review
Eric Henderson Slant Magazine Dec 6, 2006
2/4
Its execution sits perched well above its scummy aim, and the end result is that you feel guilty for wishing for something more perverted. Go to Full Review
Nick Schager Lessons of Darkness Jun 15, 2006
B
A sturdy slasher flick that laces its splattery slayings with some anti-establishment undertones. Go to Full Review
David Nusair Reel Film Reviews Jun 12, 2026
2/4
...a disappointing missed opportunity... Go to Full Review
Kevin Carr Fat Guys at the Movies Mar 9, 2024
2.5/4
Dripping in 80s exploitation tropes, this gritty crime thriller revels in its era with enough horror elements to make it unique. Go to Full Review
Matt Brunson Film Frenzy Dec 26, 2021
2.5/4
A fairly involving "B" programmer. Go to Full Review
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Audience Reviews

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Abraham R Nov 23, 2018 It's actually very entertaining!
Harry P Mar 14, 2018 The movie is not deep, its about a MANIAC COP! For what the movie is, I enjoyed it.
Draco L Feb 15, 2018 A film that was alot of fun and chilling.
Luke R Sep 3, 2017 A movie that from a distance looks like your average slasher flick but, honestly it isn't. Now, yes it has the typical slasher kills and a typically deformed killer! Although it's story is much more detailed and better thought out then the usual. It offers some nice thrills, and it's somewhat entertaining. The promblem she with this movie are mainly only one thing. The existing, it was horrible! It felt like a goosebumps episode. To give you an example on how bad the editing is, at one point to different songs are playing at the same time! Also the music was pretty bad to top it off! So overall watch this movie. That's all there is to it. It won't leave you thinking about it all day but, while the films rolling your eyes will be glued to the screen (mostly). See more
Leia S Jun 28, 2017 Really good slasher/thriller amazingly done, totally well done, it would have to be one of the best slasher films of the 1980s, bruce Campbell, at his best, i would give this film exactly 4.5/5 for a total, i would have to say its so close to the burning, the effects are great, acting a little bit chessy but overall fantastic. See more
Harry L Feb 26, 2017 Maniac Cop is a 1988 horror film starring iconic Bruce Campbell as Jack Forrest. This is a film that fits within the sub-genre of slashers, which were booming during the 80's and still hold a great deal of relevance in today's pop culture. I'll be honest with you, I enjoyed Maniac Cop, but it definitely pulls its punches about midway. The movie opens up with a woman being harassed by a couple of teenage boys who look no more threatening than Yogi Bear and Boo Boo, all they wanted was her picnic basket...After escaping them, she runs into the waiting arms of her heroic police officer...only he's not just a cop. He's a...MANIAC COP! Our movie revolves around this maniac cop taking people out one by one, for now we don't know why as his motives remain hidden until much later in the film. The portrayal of the maniac cop is done in excellence by actor Robert Z'Dar and his amazing jawline. For most of the movie, we get a shadowy amorphous killer. This makes gives the killer more resonance when he's on the scene, truly invigorating a sense of mystery and dread. Mostly sticking to his superhuman strength as his main method of destruction, he does sometimes use other means to bring down the long arm of his "law". What's unfortunate, is the times we actually get to see our killer, are few and far between. The hero of our movie is the indomitable Bruce Campbell, who plays patsy to our maniac cop by means of a Hand of God moment that felt a little bit forced. We're getting a more sophisticated Bruce in this movie, more Evil Dead I, rather than the campy Army of Darkness Bruce I adore so much. Still, Bruce does well with what the writers and Larry Cohen's script gave him to work with. Though the slow burn of this movie doesn't have a huge pay off at its climax, this movie still succeeds, here's why. The believability of this type of horror actually happening in real life is very possible. There's even a turn of events where a tormented cop trying to do the right thing, takes matters into his own hands and deliberately disobeys his superior officer. This tormented cop Is worried about more people being hurt and tells a reporter of the killer's possible police officer background, since he wears an officer's uniform. Once leaked to the public that a cop is the one responsible for the recent murders, the public goes into a panic. One woman, pulled over for speeding even shoots a rookie officer out of fear. Director William Lustig (Maniac 1988) managed to portray a strong sense of this horror, both during the night, and during the day (a rare sight to see). Turning an entire entity of safety such as the police force, into an embodiment of our fears is true horror that's apparent for both the entity itself and the public in this film. Relevance to our current day is pretty strong here, making the tone of this film even more terrifying... Exploring a slew of cinematic styles, and breaking the slasher mold, the audience can be assured that at times, they're going to get a smorgasbord of fun. Some aspects of this film got me thinking of films like Zero Boys (1985) where an action movie wiggled its way into a slasher movie's pants, giving birth something truly memorable. Though this isn't your typical slasher, that's not a bad thing and if you can go into this movie, expecting something new, I think you'll be pleasantly surprised. I recommend this movie to any fan of 80's horror movies that's willing to keep an open mind. Though the plot tends to suffer later in the film, the theme remains strong and supported by a killer cast of stars. Buy this movie. See more
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Maniac Cop

My Rating

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Movie Info

Synopsis Two New York policemen (Tom Atkins, Bruce Campbell) and a policewoman (Laurene Landon) search for a killer in uniform who should be dead.
Director
William Lustig
Producer
Larry Cohen
Screenwriter
Larry Cohen
Production Co
Shapiro-Glickenhaus Entertainment
Rating
R
Genre
Horror
Original Language
English
Release Date (Theaters)
May 13, 1988, Original
Release Date (Streaming)
Aug 12, 2014
Runtime
1h 25m
Sound Mix
Surround
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