MANIAC COP (1988)
Directed by William Lustig
Starring Tom Atkins and Bruce Campbell
What else was there for the director of the ultra-controversial slasher pic "Maniac" to do but make a similar film -- or at least a similarly titled one.
This time, the killer is a disfigured maniac wearing a police uniform and sparking major protests in New York City. It's a silly movie, but a must for splatter fans. Gore movie legend Larry Cohen wrote the script and "Evil Dead" star Campbell plays a good-guy cop framed for the murders of the maniac. It's great to see Campbell back in action in a pseudo-horror film.
Character actor Atkins is the detective who suspects that Campbell isn't the real killer. Although he's given star billing, the real lead of the story is Campbell.
Like even some of Cohen's worst stuff, it delivers some interesting social commentary and actually came out before the whole Rodney King incident got the world angry at cops. The tagline: "You have the right to remain silent ... forever." Unfortunately, Cohen's script doesn't live up to some of his better films.
It's not exactly a horror film--more of a sleazy action film. It's also surprisingly low on effects and sex, given the fact that Lustig directed it.