Maniac Cop (1988) William Lustig

Innocent people are being brutally murdered on the streets of New York by a uniformed police officer. As the death toll rises and City Hall attempts a cover-up, Frank McCrae heads the investigation. A young cop, Jack Forrest, finds himself under arrest as the chief suspect, having been the victim of a set-up by the real killer and a mysterious woman phone-caller. Forrest, his girlfriend Theresa, and McCrae set out to solve the puzzle before the Maniac Cop can strike again.

Maniac Cop is a splendid little late eighties cult item, with one of the mightiest killers of any slasher. The maniac cop is truly imposing as he goes about his brutal business, with a realistic sense of authority and a good back story too. The acting is quality across the board, with veterans such as Tom Atkins, Bruce Campbell giving their all, as well as fine work by Sheree North and a cameo by Richard Roundtree. The script by legend Larry Cohen is top notch, with unpredictable twists and turns, good dialogue and an interesting sense of urban paranoia. The direction for the most part is ace too, with many tense and creepy moments, and some good meaness to some of the kills.

Maniac Cop (1988)