Unveiling the Hidden Gems: Exploring the Forgotten Slasher Franchise

The era of the slasher film's glory days has long past, yet its dedicated fanbase remains unwavering. The sheer delight of witnessing a masked serial killer ruthlessly dispatching unsympathetic victims never loses its appeal. Seasoned enthusiasts have likely devoured all twelve Friday the 13th installments and the seven Nightmare on Elm Street entries, but they may have overlooked the gripping saga of the Maniac Cop.

During their prime, slasher films seldom delved into societal issues. And when they did, it was either subtly implied or disastrously executed. Uniquely, the Maniac Cop franchise revolves around a slasher character who dons the guise of a law enforcement officer, instantly raising questions about police brutality, oversight, and accountability. Its exploration of these themes proves to be bitterly foolish, with sporadic attempts to ground the narrative in reality, albeit overshadowed by the series' grim politics. The notion that all police officers could potentially harbor a "Maniac Cop" alter ego is a thought worth considering.

What is Maniac Cop About?

Late at night on a New York City street, a woman is strangled by a large man in a police uniform. This brutal murder is just the beginning, as the man in uniform goes on a rampage, randomly attacking and killing innocent people across the city. The media quickly gives him the chilling nickname of "Maniac Cop," but the higher-ups at the police station are desperately trying to keep news of the killer under wraps.

The public's trust in the police is shattered, leading to a strange twist of fate where civilians use their fear as an excuse to harm and even kill innocent cops. Officer Jack Forest finds himself in a difficult position when his wife catches him in bed with a colleague, and soon after, she turns up dead. Mallory, Jack's mistress, who is working undercover, is also targeted by the Maniac Cop. It is during this encounter that she realizes the chilling truth - the killer's skin is freezing cold, his body is immensely strong, and he shows no signs of pain even after being shot multiple times.

With the help of Lieutenant McRae, Mallory uncovers the identity of the Maniac Cop - a former police officer named Matt Cordell. Matt had been wrongly imprisoned for police brutality after he was close to exposing corruption at city hall. While in Sing Sing prison, he was brutally attacked by a criminal he had put away, resulting in severe injuries. Despite being believed to be brain-dead, faint signs of life were detected by the medical examiner, who then released Cordell into the care of another officer. Now, with Jack's innocence proven and the lives of every officer in danger, it falls upon the prime suspect to take down the Maniac Cop.

How Many Maniac Cop Movies Are There?

The original 1988 Maniac Cop birthed two subsequent movies. Maniac Cop 2 debuted on television screens in 1990, showcasing significantly enhanced effects compared to its predecessor. Many fans regard the second installment as the strongest in the trilogy. While undeniably a raunchy exploitation film similar to the first, the sequel elevates every element to the excessive standards of classic 80s cinema. It's a gratifying action horror flick imbued with the endearing B-movie charm that makes cheesy films beloved. Director William Lustig firmly believes that Maniac Cop 2 is his best work.

Unfortunately, the third installment, Maniac Cop III: Badge of Silence, does not receive the same acclaim. As is often the case with trilogies, the first film establishes the concept, the second builds upon it brilliantly, and the third ultimately ruins everything. The dialogue is somehow even worse. The quality of the action scenes has plummeted, even by the relatively low standards of the first movie. The new deuteragonist is one of the most atrocious "heroes" in recent horror film memory. Those new to the Maniac Cop franchise are advised to savor the first two films and vehemently avoid the third at any cost.

Will Maniac Cop Ever Return?

Rumors of a Maniac Cop revival have circulated in the 2010s but have recently gone silent. In 2015, a remake was announced with Drive director Nicolas Winding Refn serving as executive producer. The screenplay was entrusted to Ed Brubaker, the renowned comic book writer known for resurrecting Bucky Barnes as The Winter Soldier. The film was slated to be directed by John Hyams, the talented creator of the well-received slasher Sick for Peacock. However, the project underwent a transformation in 2019 and morphed into a TV series intended for airing on HBO. Refn and Hyams remained attached to the project, promising a significant departure from the original material. Unfortunately, after 2019, no further updates about the project have been reported, leaving its fate uncertain. One can only speculate whether recent events in 2020 may have influenced Refn and his team to abandon the idea.

The Maniac Cop films offer a thrilling blend of action and horror. While their political undertones may be less than favorable, it is relatively easy to overlook them, especially when compared to the more controversial themes prevalent in modern primetime TV shows. The first two entries in the Maniac Cop series are delightfully mindless and entertaining. Whether or not Matt Cordell ever returns from his undead state, he will always be associated with these two exceptional slasher films. Fans of campy horror should definitely give this series a try, as Cordell's quest for revenge knows no bounds. It's no wonder he's dubbed the Maniac Cop.