geekVault Reviews: Maniac Cop

Maniac Cop

Rating:  

Directed By: William Lustig

Starring: Tom Atkins, Bruce Campbell, Laurene Landon, Robert Z’Dar

Plot Synopsis:

In New York, a man in a cop’s uniform starts killing people for no apparent reason. (IMDB)

Review:

The tag line (“You have the right to remain silent.  Forever!”) pretty much sums up Maniac Cop.  There are no suprises or twists here.  We have a maniac cop murdering innocent people for no reason.  And it’s up to Tom Atkins (Night of the Creeps) and Bruce Campbell (Evil Dead) to stop him!

For a slasher flick, this is a little gem.  The opening credit sequence is awesome, one of the best use of that sort of sequence I’ve seen.  It’s basically close-ups of the maniac cop “suiting up” with some eerie music playing.  Director William Lustig and writer Larry Cohen aren’t giving us anything too unique here.  But, it’s the concept of seeing a crazy cop offing people that is well played here.

I love this flick.  It’s a lot of fun to see Bruce Campbell in his prime.  He’s never been the greatest actor, but I have mad love for the guy.  Plus, Tom Atkins is a joy to watch as well.  If only we can see him in action in Night of the Creeps on DVD! Someday.  Until then we’ll have to settle for him in Maniac Cop.

The main reason why Maniac Cop works as well as it does (and it spawned 2 sequels) is because of the Maniac Cop himself.  Robert Z’Dar has the largest chin known to man.  Even larger than Bruce Campbell‘s.  Plus, he’s a hulk of a man, so you totally believe this crazy killer cop exists.

My one gripe is Laurene Landon‘s hair throughout the movie.  It’s huge and very wig-like.  I wouldn’t be surprised if it had it’s own credit at the end of the film.  You can’t help to wonder why that hairstyle was left the way it was.  You can barely see her eyes or even her face.  But, it was the 80s.  The bigger the hair, the hotter the woman, right?

Maniac Cop is a lot of fun.  One of the better slashers of the 80s.  It never did reach Friday the 13th level, but I enjoyed it way more than any of those sequels.  If you have some time to kill on a weekend, pick up Maniac Cop.

Rated R for graphic violence and gore.