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Maniac Cop (1988): Tom Atkins and Bruce Campbell in a VHS-era Slasher
Description
Why do horror fans keep discovering the VHS-era thrills of Maniac Cop?
William Lustig's Maniac Cop is best-known for the appearances of horror icons Tom Atkins (Halloween III: Season of the Witch) and Bruce Campbell (The Evil Dead) as well as cult film actor Robert Z'Dar (Samurai Cop).
The movie looks like a brainless Friday the 13th clone but is written with smarts by the famous Larry Cohen. The berserker cop on a killing spree will satisfy genre fans, but it spins up a hard-boiled detective and a conspiratorial backstory.
Join me for a discussion of the film's unorthodox structure of three protagonists, unexpected twists, and mighty-fine chins and stiff upper detective lips.
Directed by William Lustig. Written and produced by Larry Cohen. Starring Tom Atkins, Bruce Campbell, Laurene Landon, Richard Roundtree, William Smith, Robert Z'Dar, and Sheree North.
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