The New York streets at
night were reputed to be unsafe but they
are getting more dangerous as an ex-cop
who served time in jail for murder named
Matt Cordell (Robert Z'Dar) wears his
uniform and kills several innocent
people.
Police chief Frank McCrae (Tom Atkins)
tries to unravel this case and thinks
that one of his people named Jack Forrest
(Bruce Campbell) was a suspect after his
wife named Ellen (Victoria Catlin) was
murdered after she discovers him cheating
on her with one of his co-workers named
Theresa Mallory (Laurene Landon) and is
held for questioning.
Now, after Cordell breaks into the
headquarters by killing some of the
officers there Jack manages to escape
with his mistress Theresa as they try to
find some way on Cordell's case to prove
his innocence and to try and stop him.
A perfect opening
in this piece showing Matt Cordell putting on gloves a badge and other
police equipment without showing his
face. This moment for sure leaves a good slasher flick impression as it reminds me on openings of similar slasher flick type sequels such as Halloween and A Nightmare On Elm Street.
We see a nice beginning of a scene with
a woman walking down the street and being mugged
by thugs however some of this was supposed to be intense and it almost works but looked slightly cheesy and then she gets physically tough,
then runs to Matt as his presence looked perfect standing
in the dark and about to kill. Perfect moment on the thugs a distance away freaking out by seeing this officer doing her in as it worked in well to the story.
A great close up shots on Matt pulling out a knife about
to kill his victim as well as him
strolling towards a car and knocking on
the persons car window with his gloves
exposed. Things looked charmingly humpress when he uses his hand signals to have the guy driving the car to get out as it adds nice timing as well as him being killed and then his body slammed against the windshield as it packs a punch along with the girlfriend screaming and trying to speed away offering nice suspense into the story.
Impressive moment with both Frank McCrae and
Regina Sheperd having a discussion in a bar as we also see a TV screen above them on people discussing the negative moments on police officers which made sense as to what they were talking about.
We see a nice close up shot on Jack Forrest putting on his police gear
and acting blunt and aggressive too
towards his his wife as the moments looked good and still while all of this was happening.
Nicely done scene with a maid going to a run down hotel and then entering a room spotting a gruseome dead body on the bed as this should be a mild amusement for slasher fans. Nicely put into the story.
We spot a nice 3 way conversation with Frank McCrae and Capt. Riley being aggressive towards Jack Forrest
for the questioning of the murder of his
wife as it almost looked like a real
questioning session with police officers
towards a suspect as a good cop / bad cop situation.
A perfect campy moment when a cheating family man stops by to try and pick up a hooker and spots an undercover Theresa Mallory with him acting nearly threatening asking if she's an undercover cop and she replies correctly and gets cute with him as this scene was a classic for sure. Then a nice moment when she walks near an alleyway and spots a dark figure of Matt and a good intense moment when he tries to strangle her with nice back camera shots on this and other intense shots with this happening as she tries to
fight him off along with Frank and nice shocking reactions towards them
when they see his size. Good moments on them firign their gun and a good close up shot on his body being hit by bullet holes and him surviving this as it was a good scene revealing an invincible killer like we've seen in other horror flicks.
We spot a nice horror scene with
Sally Noland holding Matt's hand near a dark
wreckage area acting motherly and telling
him about his insane behavior as this was
a great touch and well done making it
look like a good direction to the horror
in the film. Plus a nice moment when Frank is spying on them and she hears him as well as firing her gun away as this looked intense.
Of course we see a nice flashback scene
of a prison with prisoners staring at Matt with
evil looks on their faces. We see a good
shot onthis fellow in a shower scene as
you can finally spot what he looks like
and was well done on his brutal
battles with the prisoners who attack him
which was greatly choreographed and very
disturbing too. Almost looks as if these prisoners were beaten to death as well as good close up shots on one of them slashing Matt's face as all of this had a great slow motion movements throughout this scene.
There's a great sharp discussion sequence
with Jack and Theresa with
a doctor discussing Cordell's history and
there's some fine disputes that looked
good especially from Theresa with her
tough attitude. Also a good flashback moment with the doctor testing a bloodied body and checking out their pulse or heartbeats as this was nice and creepy looking.
Another nice moment for slasher fans is spotting some bloodied dead police officers in a station caused by Matt's killing as well as one revealed hung bloodily. Great horror touches indeed combining with the action as well as Theresa handcuffed to another officer and then we see him getting stabbed to death while she tries to drag his body on escaping from Matt coming after her which keeps you in suspense as well as trying to lock a door while using a key to free herself along with a good shot on Matt pounding his fist through the door. This keep you glued to the set wondering if she will manage to escape as well as her trying to get out of a building window which looked terrifying and wondering if she will fall.
A real strong and effective moment
with Sally whacking Frank with
a metal object going crazy as you wonder if he will manage to survive on what she's doing. Also nice moments with Matt nearly beating Frank to a pulp as you wonder if he will survive this looking brutally intense.
We also see a nice squad car speeding
away causing damage as well as Jack handcuffed inside being slammed around as this looked powerful and intense.
Perfect memorable moment when Matt is grabbing a hold of Jack with Theresa trying to save the day pointing a gun towards this maniac and demanding him to put him down which is my favourite scene of all.
Perfect shot on the police vehicle falling into the ocean with Jack falling in as well as this looked perfectly action packed.
Bottom line: This was a neat
low budget action and horror put in one
which makes the plot of this film very
exciting. Cleverly written and shot with lots of
chasing and dark moments too. However, although it was supposed to look
like New York and was filmed in L.A. you
can tell by some of the scenery with the
car chasing and other spots like that as
half of it was in NY and the other half
in L.A. It's a shame they couldn't cheat
it.
The acting is very
good. Tom Atkins (Frank McCrae) really knew how
to come across playing a tough cop
showing all his actions to prove that. He gets into his character greatly in which he shows of a good stern no nonsense attiude and showing off some great energy as well as reacting to stuff marvellu=ously as well as suffering in pain in certain scene's as he seemed realistic on that.
Bruce Campbell (Jack Forrest) is of course
phenominal playing a blunt and heroic cop
in the film proving he can do other
horror films that the Evil Dead
flicks. Offers a good charm to his presence. Also really gets into the action greatly when he had to as well as reacting well to the intense moments involving him.
Laurene Landon (Theresa Mallory) was perfect in her
role as an uncover cop as she seems very
outgoing in her role too and shows a
perfect tough as nails attitude. Does well as an undercover hooker as well as acting fresh when she tells someone she's undercover getting cute and does this with great style. Has a real classic line
towards the onscreen killer when
she is holding a rifle demanding him to
put someone else
and says it with heroic strength. Plus had terrific lung power to scream in a horror flick.
William Smith (Capt. Riley) looked great in his
part as a leader on the police force
with his grunting voice. He for sure had the perfect rugged looks along with doing a good seriousness to everything. Does well getting to the point of stuff and being straight forward as he was a true character actor for this type as he has it nailed down portraying a great leader of the police squad.
Richard Roundtree (Commissioner Pike) only had a few scene's in his supporting role but shows it with a great strong presence in which he offers a great seriousness as well as having an attitude in which he seemed somehwat arrogant. For sure reminds you as one of those closed minded types of the law that you don't care for. Still had the knack in this one to play these types since he was often typecast as a lawman.
Robert Z'Dar's (Matt Cordell) appearance as the
maniac cop looked beautiful as he
truly did look intimidating and powerful
looking like in a Michael Myers fashion
but he stood out more than a Myers
character. This was the film that made
him a low budget horror film cult icon. Shows a nice violent forceful attitude especially in a shower prison scene as he looked truly deadly. Bless his soul.
Supporting actress Sheree North (Sally Norland) had
the perfect part in the film which brings
to the horror story in it and knew how to
really snap and go nuts with her role as
the one befriending the maniac cop in a motherly
fashion and does this superbly. Offers a nice mysterious moment during the beginning of her performance as someone eccentric and something not right about her.
Supporting actress Victoria Catlin
(Ellen Forrest) has a smaller role but is one of the best cast members in the
film even if her role is fairly small as
a disturbed wife making her role seeming
extremely real. She acts believeably tense
and upset too scared to say anything but
does anyhow. She reacts perfectly
the most as you wonder if she is abused. Performs well when she really loses it towards her onscreen husband in a hotel suit by pointing a
gun at him acting crazy too.
We have a good uncredited cameo by
writer/director Sam Raimi (Reporter at a Parade) as he says his lines
smoothly. He was a good hyped up fast talker and offers some good timing with his energy into all of this. A decent character actor that he can prove to be instead of working behind the camera.
A woman's throat
is gruesomely slit.
Matt Cordell's face is slashed by
prisoners at a shower room plus he
smashes one of their heads against a wall
and blood pours out of his mouth.
Jay Chattaway composed
the music for this one and does it with
great taste by having some icy
synthesizer music as well as some
whistling type sounds to the storyline. He also composed some real dark and
intense music like the brutal shower
brawling scene incliuding heavy drum beats which I thought was his best effort and giving it a good 80's horror feel to it all along
with some violin action car chasing music
for the other scene's too.
Sally
Noland: It couldn't of have just been
a bullet-proof vest. I hit him in the
head at least twice!
Frank McCrae: Look at the marks on
your throat.
Sally Noland: I'm telling you,
Frank. His hands were so big, and they
felt like ice... even through his gloves.
He wasn't breathing.
Frank McCrae: Hah... we won't put
that in our report, huh?
Teresa
Mallory(Holding a rifle
towards Matt Cordell holding Jack Forrest
in the air): Put him down
Cordell!!!! |