This 4K Ultra HD and Blu-ray set from Blue Underground is currently available for purchase.
For those unfamiliar with Maniac Cop, it was an action/slasher picture about a deranged, scarred and potentially undead ex-cop named Matt Cordell who sets out to kill those he believed wronged him in life (as well as anyone else who stood in his way). It starred Robert Z’dar as the title character, along with Bruce Campbell and Laurine Landon as cops out to stop his bloody rampage. This B-movie was something of a minor hit, particularly on VHS. Naturally, this prompted an even more ambitious sequel.
As a young viewer, the follow-up seemed like a marked improvement over the entertaining original. And in reviewing the movie, Maniac Cop 2 does up the ante in just about every regard and is even more successful than the first feature. Cordell is most definitely a walking corpse in this feature, getting himself into more elaborate battles with officers and citizens as he continues to wreak vengeance.
Unfortunately, while receiving a theatrical release in other parts of the world, the movie premiered exclusively on VHS in North America. Regardless, it found its audience and remains a very popular cult flick. After years of rights issues preventing its release, Blue Underground are finally putting the film out on disc with incredible, upgraded picture quality and tons of bonus features. This 4K Ultra HD and Blu-ray release is absolutely stunning and presents this great genre movie as it was meant to be seen.
The story begins with a now zombified Cordell (Z’Dar) picking up an abandoned police cruiser and hunting more victims in New York City. After facing off against the cop in the previous film, Officer Jack Forrest (Bruce Campbell) and Officer Theresa Mallory (Laurene Landon) are rightly convinced that Cordell could still be out on the streets. Of course, they’re soon proven right, although a local commissioner (Michael Lerner) would rather the public not know the truth. After a series of confrontations leave various persons dead, new arrivals Lieutenant Sean McKinney (Robert Davi) and police psychologist Susan Riley (Claudia Christian) take on the case. In the meantime, Cordell befriends a psychotic killer named Steven Turkell (Leo Rossi). When Turkell is arrested, the Maniac Cop decides to break his new friend out of jail, leading to a series of wild, action-packed escapades.
The plot itself isn’t exactly revolutionary, but the writing is clever enough to throw in some unexpected story twists and further develop the Cordell character. The redesign of the Maniac Cop’s make-up is a vast improvement, and of course, with the slightly higher budget, the action itself is far more extensive and impressive. Fans hoping for the central character to walk the streets and literally take down dozens of citizens and fellow police officers get exactly what they want out of the feature.
And the cast also help keep things fun, milking each scene for everything it’s worth. Besides Davi, Christian, Campbell (in admittedly, an all-too brief part), Landon, Z’Dar, Lerner and Rossi having fun with their roles, there are also some great scenery-chewing appearances by Clarence Williams III and Charles Napier (as well as a brief cameo by Danny Trejo). Everybody has a juicy role and most do their part to make the characters memorable. In particular, Rossi goes into full Dracula Renfield mode as the sleazy murderer who befriends Cordell. He’s compelling to watch as he interacts with Cordell and explains his own motives. Director William Lustig (Maniac, Vigilante, Relentless, Uncle Sam) and writer Larry Cohen (It’s Alive, God Told Me To) attain the perfect tone that mixes shocks, excitement and laughs in equal measure. Almost everyone on screen is having a great time and viewers will feel the same way about the film.
Additionally, the stunt work here is just as good, if not better, than any Hollywood film of its era. There’s a remarkable car chase through the streets at night that looks incredibly dangerous, as does a stunt involving one of the characters being handcuffed to a moving vehicle (which another does battle with Cordell using a running chainsaw). A raid of a police shooting gallery and station is equally impressive, with the Maniac Cop literally walking through doors and taking down victims. A stunt during the finale featuring a pair of characters on fire plunging out a window down to the pavement is also memorable.
This movie promises action and delivers in spades, providing B-movie thrills at a consistent level. The new Blu-ray is just as impressive, with a cleaned up and sharp picture that still retains a gritty New York vibe. And, as expected, the extras are great as well. There’s a commentary featuring Lustig and Danish director Nicolas Winding Refn (Drive, Only God Forgives, The Neon Demon). Their conversation is friendly, with Lustig answering interesting questions and giving away fascinating tidbits about the production. He explains why he swapped out the original heroes for new characters, also noting that a lot of the movie was actually shot in LA. Lustig tells a wild story about how Robert Davi became involved and notes that he didn’t get along well with actress Christian. He also details how he convinced local policemen to let him shoot far more material on the streets than he was initially allowed to.
You’ll hear more of these tales in the 47-minute making of special included on the disc. It includes Lustig, Cohen and most of the cast and crew describing their experiences and offering their own perspectives. Lustig goes into more detail on some of the above stories, including how he told investors he had cast Robert Davi (who receiving attention at the time for his upcoming role in the Bond movie, Licence to Kill) even though they had never been in contact. Another highlight is a discussion with stunt coordinator Spiro Razatos, who set up the incredible stunt shots. He has since worked in the same position on titles like Captain America: The Winter Soldier, Kong: Skull Island and F9: The Fast Saga.
If that wasn’t enough, there is another lengthy extra featuring a Q&A with Lustig at an LA screening of the film. Additionally, the disc includes a deleted scene, domestic and international trailers for the feature and an extensive poster and still gallery.
If you enjoy the work of William Lustig, Maniac Cop 2 is likely one of your favorite titles from the filmmaker. This release from Blue Underground looks phenomenal, will entertain genre fans and provide plenty of background details about the movie that even enthusiasts may not have known about. This release is highly recommended to any genre fan!
NOTE: And keep checking this site for an upcoming review of the new Blue Underground Maniac Cop 3: Badge of Silence 4k Ultra HD and Blu-ray.