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Maniac Cop (1988)
Synapse Films
Blu-ray Disc Released: 10/11/2011
All Ratings out of
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1/2
Review by Mike Long, Posted on 10/8/2011
It's not unusual for directors to create themes or concepts which recur over and over again in their films. Whether this is a visual calling card or movies with similar ideas, even directors who have diverse filmographies will often incorporate their own identities into their work. But, how often do directors get stuck on titles? In 1980, William Lustig released the notorious slasher film
Maniac. Eight years later, Lustig brought us the totally unrelated Maniac Cop. Was this title used to capitalize on the success (and infamy) of the earlier movie? Was "Crazy Cop" not a good idea?As Maniac Cop opens, we witness a man in a police uniform murder several people. This creates panic and citizens of New York begin to fear the police. Detective Frank McCrae (Tom Atkins) investigates the crimes, but doesn't have many leads. Meanwhile, beat cop Jack Forrest (Bruce Campbell) is having an affair with fellow officer Theresa Mallory (Laurene Landon). When his girlfriend is found butchered, Jack is arrested and assumed to be the "maniac cop". However, when Theresa is attacked by a man in uniform, she realizes that it can't be Jack. Through her research and McCrae's investigation, it begins to become clear that a dangerous man with a law enforcement past is walking the streets and he must be caught in order to clear Jack's name.
Given his background, it's not surprising to see a movie like Maniac Cop from Bill Lustig. Lustig was a devotee of the 42nd St. grindhouse cinema of the 70s and 80s, and this is reflected in his work. With Maniac Cop, we get action and violence taking place in dark city streets, women in peril, and dodgy fight scenes. The movie features gritty, no-nonsense characters and Lustig himself in a quick cameo as the manager of a sleazy motel.
However, Maniac Cop is oddly lackluster. This was Lustig's third time in the director's chair, following is work on Maniac and Vigilante. Say what you will about Maniac, that movie created an uber-scuzzy atmosphere and generated a reaction from the viewer. With Maniac Cop, it feels as if Lustig is attempting to clean up his act, if you will. Despite the presence of some attractive actresses, there's no T&A in the film. The movie leans more towards action than flat-out violence, and there's no gore in the movie. Maniac Cop wants to fall back on its story, which is part murder-mystery. But, when we learn the identity of the titular character, it really doesn't mean anything to us, and the explanation for his actions is decidedly muddled. The screenplay, from veteran filmmaker Larry Cohen, sets up an interesting idea and then goes nowhere.
Maniac Cop has some potential, but it never lives up to it. With a reported budget of over $1 million, it was obviously a low-budget film, but in 1988, that amount could still take a savvy filmmaker a long way. The film's idea is intriguing, but the payoff is disappointing. Viewed today, Maniac Cop feels quite slow and works mainly as a curiosity piece, as we get a very young looking Bruce Campbell, and a cameo from now mainstream director Sam Raimi as a parade announcer. However, Maniac Cop was apparent a success in its own right, as we later got Maniac Cop 2 and Maniac Cop 3 (which I remember having a great car chase scene).
Maniac Cop does feature some great 80s fashions on Blu-ray Disc courtesy of Synapse Films. The film has been letterboxed at 1.85:1 and the Disc contains an AVC 1080p HD transfer which runs at an average of 30 Mbps. The image is sharp and clear, showing very little grain and only minor defects from the source material. For a low-budget film from over 20 years ago, this transfer looks pretty good. The colors are a bit washed out, but the image is never overly dark or bright (which is good, as the night-time scenes could have easily been too dark). This doesn't look like a big Hollywood movie, but the HD transfer does offer a surprisingly crisp look. The Disc offers a DTS-HD Master Audio 6.1 track which runs at 48 kHz and an average of 4.0 Mbps. The track provides clear dialogue and sound effects. This is a very active track which offers good stereo and surround effects. The track really excels when sounds from the front channels to the rear channels, creating a sense of movement. Subwoofer effects aren't as strong, but the presence of lively surround effects helps to make the track memorable.
The Maniac Cop Blu-ray Disc contains a nice assortment of extras. "Maniac Cop Memories" (12 minutes) is an interview with the Maniac Cop himself, Robert Z'Dar. He discusses his career and then talks about working on Maniac Cop, giving specifics about his approach to the role and the production. "Out the Window" (11 minutes) is an interview with actor Tom Atkins, who gives his reflections on the movie. We get a brief interview with an actor best known for his work in Evil Dead II in "Three Minutes with Danny Hicks" (4 minutes). There are two American THEATRICAL TRAILERS, as well as one from France. This is followed by two TV SPOTS and a "Spanish Radio Spot". The "Additional Footage Filmed for Japanese TV Broadcast" (6 minutes) features a few additional scenes with the Mayor and his aide, neither of which I remember seeing in the movie. The final extra is an "Animated Promotional Art Gallery" which offers poster and video art from around the world.
Review Copyright 2011 by Mike Long