There's something very unsettling about the simple fact that a symbol of justice turns out to be the very thing you should be afraid of. Nicely captured in the opening minutes of "Maniac Cop" when a victim of a couple of muggers runs to a police officer only to be met with a swift and brutal death. The film, written by Larry Cohen, capitalizes on this well enough for the first fifteen minutes or so before it becomes an uneasy mixture of a suspense/slasher/horror flick that really should be more entertaining than it turns out to be.
Most know the plot; a former cop, Matt Cordell (Z'Dar), returns from the dead to exact vengeance on those who wronged him and a lot of innocent people as well. Detective McRae (Atkins) investigates what seem to be murders committed by a man in blue; and he doesn't believe that fellow cop Jack Forrest (Campbell) is responsible although most everyone on the force suspect him after his wife is discovered dead.
The cast is right on the money; genre vets Tom Atkins, Richard Roundtree and William Smith all turn in decent performances but Bruce Campbell (who most of the time I love) and Laurene Landon are remarkably stilted and unconvincing. The violence is obviously toned down as this could have been really bloody and the action sequences are well staged with a knockout scene to close out the film.
The mystery here and it's unfolding leaves a lot to be desired as I feel Cohen could have made more of Cordell's character and McRae discovers things all too easily. He looks to be a little more interested in making a social statement concerning fear of the uniform of safety and justice and mixing it with some old school horror and splatter (on the light side) because that's what sells. Lustic seems more content with staging action sequences and catching the seedier look of the city (as with his earlier "Maniac") than driving home this point. "Maniac Cop" is never really suspenseful, it's not bloody enough to satisfy gore hounds and Campbell and Landon really sink the final act as they take center stage for the showdown.
Having said that; the film did grow on me a little with repeat viewing and it's central premise of a cop committing senseless murders on unsuspecting citizens is quite unnerving. Atkins delivers a fine performance and the action scenes are quite good. I still feel it should have been better and, based on numerous reviews I've read, the sequel actually delivered in spades what this movie fell short of. I'll be checking that out before too long.
For fans of Atkins, Smith or Roundtree; "Maniac Cop" comes recommended as long as you keep your expectations in check. As for Campbell; he's always a welcome presence but he's not very good here.
Most know the plot; a former cop, Matt Cordell (Z'Dar), returns from the dead to exact vengeance on those who wronged him and a lot of innocent people as well. Detective McRae (Atkins) investigates what seem to be murders committed by a man in blue; and he doesn't believe that fellow cop Jack Forrest (Campbell) is responsible although most everyone on the force suspect him after his wife is discovered dead.
The cast is right on the money; genre vets Tom Atkins, Richard Roundtree and William Smith all turn in decent performances but Bruce Campbell (who most of the time I love) and Laurene Landon are remarkably stilted and unconvincing. The violence is obviously toned down as this could have been really bloody and the action sequences are well staged with a knockout scene to close out the film.
The mystery here and it's unfolding leaves a lot to be desired as I feel Cohen could have made more of Cordell's character and McRae discovers things all too easily. He looks to be a little more interested in making a social statement concerning fear of the uniform of safety and justice and mixing it with some old school horror and splatter (on the light side) because that's what sells. Lustic seems more content with staging action sequences and catching the seedier look of the city (as with his earlier "Maniac") than driving home this point. "Maniac Cop" is never really suspenseful, it's not bloody enough to satisfy gore hounds and Campbell and Landon really sink the final act as they take center stage for the showdown.
Having said that; the film did grow on me a little with repeat viewing and it's central premise of a cop committing senseless murders on unsuspecting citizens is quite unnerving. Atkins delivers a fine performance and the action scenes are quite good. I still feel it should have been better and, based on numerous reviews I've read, the sequel actually delivered in spades what this movie fell short of. I'll be checking that out before too long.
For fans of Atkins, Smith or Roundtree; "Maniac Cop" comes recommended as long as you keep your expectations in check. As for Campbell; he's always a welcome presence but he's not very good here.