PopHorror Let's Get Scared
I have a second confession to make. See my first confession here. I have never seen Maniac Cop 2. I only just discovered the trilogy. I know this is a shame. I might expect the horror cops to beat on my door at any moment. However, one thing I love about the expansive world of horror is something new can always be discovered. So, before they lock me up and throw away the key – or worse, the ghost of Matt Cordell finds me first – let me tell you about this cult classic homage to slasher films.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BV-SmpeTBkE
Following the maniac cop’s reign of terror in New York City in 1988’s Maniac Cop, police are unable to recover the body of the murderous Matt Cordell (Robert Z’Dar: Tango & Cash, Samurai Cop) from the bottom of the harbor. Believing Cordell and the man who went on a rampage dressed as a cop to be two different people and seeing neither of these individuals as a threat, the NYPD is ready to sweep this mess under the rug. However, Jack Forrest (Bruce Campbell: The Evil Dead) and Theresa Mallory (Laurene Landon: Airplane II: The Sequel, Syndicate Smasher) try to warn them that Matt Cordell and the maniac cop are one in the same, and he is still at large. When the couple is ordered to receive a psychological evaluation from department shrink Susan Riley (Claudia Christian: Babylon 5), Jack is ready to comply with whatever narrative his superiors are pushing. Theresa, on the other hand, is not willing to give in so quickly.
Resurfacing to kill again, the ghost of Cordell begins his bloody rampage anew. This time, the killer cop is not alone. By teaming up with Turkell (Leo Rossi: Halloween II, Relentless), a serial killer known for targeting beautiful, young exotic dancers, Cordell is able to take Susan hostage and return to the prison where he lost his life. After uncovering the truth behind the events leading to Cordell’s death, Detective Sean McKinney (Robert Davi: Die Hard, The Goonies) closes in on Cordell with a plan to finally put the maniac cop to rest.
Larry Cohen (The Stuff, A Return to Salem’s Lot) returns as the screenwriter while William Lustig (Maniac) takes another spin in the director’s chair, and together they brought a sequel to life that surprisingly surpasses the original. Campbell does well reprising his role as Jack Forrest, and Landon maintains the fiery persona of Theresa Mallory. Newcomers Christian and Davi also help keep the story moving with an old-school investigative feel, while Rossi gives an outstanding performance, adding a twisted humor element. However, it’s the heavy influences of classic slasher films that make Maniac Cop 2 even more fun than the original.
Showcasing a score and an urban sing songy tune of a legend that has A Nightmare on Elm Street written all over it, there are several nods to genre favorites spread throughout Maniac Cop 2. This time, when Cordell’s face is revealed, you see a water-bloated, deformed mug that has a slight resemblance to Jason. Of course, Cordell still carries himself like any traditional slasher villain from Halloween or Friday the 13th. My personal favorite Easter Egg involves a gas powered weapon. Whether it was intentional or coincidence, Theresa wields a chainsaw that invokes memories from The Evil Dead franchise. Why doesn’t Bruce use this weapon, you may ask? Well, that would just be too obvious.
Much like the original, some people may find Maniac Cop 2 to be too unintentionally cheesy. However, the story does pull off some unexpected twists, throwing some expectations from traditional slashers aside. More depth is also added to Cordell’s backstory, which adds a surprising layer of substance to this second installment. Fans of low-budget horror films who liked the original Maniac Cop will love this explosive sequel.
