Maniac Cop 2 (1990)

From my favorite movies..

I enjoyed watching this film and would recommend other to give it a try , (as I am) but this movie, although enjoyable to watch due to the better than average acting fails to add anything new to its storyline that is all too familiar to these types of movies.

Very good movie overall, highly recommended. Most of the negative reviews don't have any merit and are all pollitically based. Give this movie a chance at least, and it might give you a different perspective.

This is a small, humorous movie in some ways, but it has a huge heart. What a nice experience.

Slasher / horror films throughout the 1980s were a big thing in its time. Many popular icons arose from that decade of which many still resonate with fans today. Several moviegoers remember the mainstream villains but there are also groups of people that remember the lesser known ones too. Of those, William Lustig's Maniac Cop (1988) was one of them. Although the concept itself borrowed ideas from past films like Halloween (1978), the idea of having a killer cop on the streets causing hysteria among the citizens of the local police force was rather inventive. The premise of corrupt cops has long been used before in movies, but an undead cop was another story. The other component that made it captivating to watch was that it played out like a mystery thriller. The maniac cop wasn't actually figured out until much later in the movie, which helped build tension to the reveal. And like any other successful movie opening, a franchise was created. Let's see how it holds up.Larry Cohen (the writer from the original) pens the continuation of the story. William Lustig also returns in the director's chair, yet there are noticeable problems, this time a little more than the first. As it was revealed at the ending of the first movie, Matt Cordell, the maniac cop (Robert Z'Dar) is alive and returns to exact his mission. The only people who still believe he's around are the cop from past events Jack Forrest (Bruce Campbell) and Teresa Mallory (Laurene Landon). Unconvinced of what they say, their captain, Edward Doyle (Michael Lerner) sends them to cop psychiatrist Susan Riley (Claudia Christian). Instead, Forrest and Mallory work to persuade Riley that Cordell exists. The only other person to think their actually telling the truth once he starts to see the puzzle pieces align is Detective Sean McKinney (Robert Davi). This is fine for a premise, but as soon as this is set up Lustig and Cohen add extra unnecessary elements.Cohen and Lustig's biggest mistake was mixing in an assistant to the maniac cop. Leo Rossi plays a serial killer named Turkell and he ends up teaming up with Cordell; to a point where he can communicate with him (via one-sided conversation). This would have been much more entertaining if Rossi wasn't so over the top in his performance. There's actually more focus put on Turkell than Cordell at certain points. This movie is called Maniac Cop 2 (1990) right? Also at one point, Turkell asks Cordell about his past and viewers are given the exact same flashback from the original Maniac Cop (1988) film. Even another jail mate named Blum (Clarence Williams III) joins Turkell and Cordell, but has very little significance. This is all just padding, it's not story telling. Lastly, there's a rushed subplot about some inside conspiracy dealing with Cordell and his death. The problem is that it comes from nowhere so abruptly; it's confusing as to why Cohen didn't mention it in the original movie script.Among these problems, everything else is commendable. The cast can all act well together. Bruce Campbell and Laurene Landon are still believable in their roles, Robert Davi and Claudia Christian make nice additions and there are a number of other actors that have small roles. Charles Napier, Danny Trejo, Marco Rodriguez and even Sam Raimi make quick appearances and it's enjoyable to see that. Robert Z'Dar as the title character continues to intimidate with his stature and presence. It's still confusing as to why nobody ever thinks of shooting Cordell in the face though. Everyone aims for the abdomen; not the face, why? For violence, nothing is seriously gore heavy but there are still some good kills. There's even a scene with a chain saw that may catch people off guard due to what's expected. One thing's for sure, the maniac cop loves snapping necks. Cordell's face is much more hideous this time too. There was only one scene though where it looked like a cheap mask. For cinematography, James Lemmo handled the camera-work. Lemmo was also the cinematographer to director Abel Ferrara's Ms. 45 (1981), Fear City (1984) and also to the original Maniac Cop (1988). Like the first movie however, there are very few (if any) daylight scenes. It's fine to show night time, but it gets a bit difficult to see things when everything is shrouded in the dark city. Nonetheless the camera is always steady and gets what it needs to show. Jay Chattaway returns as well to compose the film score. Much like his previous effort in the franchise, Chattaway thankfully maintains the main theme of the series with synth keyboard and drawn out ominous horns. There are added themes though, which may not have been crucial to include. This involves a church-like choir in the background for some tracks. Yeah, there's always that idea that putting in holy or childlike songs in a minor key sounds creepy but it makes the film feel like it was supposed to have a religious tone. Not sure.Casting, music and violence all make this sequel watchable. It is disappointing however when majority of the original crew members return and shift the focus from the title character to some other forgettable over the top one. There's also a rushed subplot about Cordell's case and it gets wedged in way too quickly. Still decent though.

The massive maniac cop has returned to the New York streets again, this time with more taste for his fellow brothers and sisters in blue. After Jack Forrest (Bruce Campbell) and Teresa Mallory (Laurene Landon) defeat Matt Cordell (Robert Z'Dar) by drowning him in the river, they think all is well. They're sent to Dr. Susan Riley (Claudia Christian) to prove their sanity and return to the force, but before they're reinstated, Jack is murdered and the force finally realizes they must accept the fact of Cordell's return and find a way to stop his murderous rampage, all the while trying to put a stop to a serial killer who specializes in murdering strippers.After seeing the terrific original for the first time, I decided to check out the sequels, the first being Maniac Cop 2 (1990), followed by Maniac Cop 3: Badge of Silence (1993). First things first, however, with the #2. Unlike many horror series, the Maniac Cop trilogy maintains the same writing & directing team throughout all three installments. That's probably why it seems that the quality is maintained throughout as well. The ever-likable William Lustig (Maniac, which reflected some of its sleaziness here) and Larry Cohen (It's Alive) make a great team and it shows here and in their other projects (like Uncle Sam (1997)). Regardless of how entertaining this sequel is, however, it's not quite as good as the first (which is to be expected 99% of the time). It's not the writing or the direction that makes it come up short. Both of those are just about equal to the first (as they're by the same guys). It's not the story, which is fairly cool. The teaming up of the murderers was something I've not really seen all that much before this. It's not even the acting, which is as acceptable as any standard 80s slasher. No, it's none of those things. What hurts Maniac Cop 2 the most. . . is a huge lack of The Bruce. Killing off Mr. Campbell, one of the best actors of the horror business, only fifteen or so minutes into the film is not a way to keep your fanbase happy. Bruce is a legend of the genre since his terrific showing in Sam Raimi's (who made a brief appearance in the first Maniac Cop) Evil Dead, and to take him out so early was not so fun. Regardless, the rest of the film was fun, even without The Bruce. It was gritty, violent, and full of all the elements a horror fan could want: boobs, blood, and big murderous giants. Highly recommended for fans of the first, or anyone looking for a bloody good time.Obligatory horror elements:Sex/Nudity: As the serial killer loves to hack up hot strippers, there's quite a bit of nudity throughout.Scares/Suspense: Some good jump scares, and there's a thrilling car scene, but it's not as scary as the first.Mystery: We know there's a secret to Cordell (or else the story wouldn't be any different than the first), but it's not really 'mystery.' - -Final verdict: 7.5/10. How did you know? -AP3-

I thought the Maniac Cop 3 was the best of the three but i'was wrong i watch all three movies but i' decide that sequel is beater then the first or the third movie.The story begging's when Matt Cordell returns with his killings and he bring his partner to take revenge on a cops and cell mates who killed him,lots off action,lots off stunts and better actors,then was in the first or third movie.I thought that in the third movie Matt brings his girlfriend Kate back to life and that they will kill together cops and the innocent people and that our hero Lt.Sean McKinney will stop them,but it was not like that,the story was boring and was too little action and the movie was too short.But the sequel is better than the first,he is the best movie of the Maniac Cop trilogy.

The first Maniac Cop was a great horror/ thriller about a super cop that was wrongfully in prisoned and was killed by the men he put away but then came to life again as a crazy Maniac Cop killing for revenge. The sequel begins where the first finished with Matt being impaled in the van and falling in the water. It's now Chirstmas time and Matt's still alive.Jack Forrest has cleared his name and is on the force again with his girlfriend Teresa Mallory who helped him in the first, but they still need to see a police shrink has they still believe that Matt Cordell is still alive.After having a small argument about whether Matt is still roaming the streets Teresa walks off leaving Jack with the shrink. That night Jack goes off to buy a newspaper when Matt Cordell shows up and kills him.Det. Sean McKinney Shows Teresa Jack's body and knows who killed him, she has an encounter with Maniac Cop with a car chase, she then confronts him with a Chainsaw but he overpowers her and kills her.Matt then teams up with another killer and them the two start a plan to enter the prison and recruit an army of criminals to take over the streets but McKinney knows how to stop Matt and that is to prove his innocence for being arrested all those years ago.Proving that the Maniac Cop is innocent he goes and kills the inmates that killed him then throws himself and the killer out of the prison wall.Maniac Cop 2 is a great sequel to the first Maniac Cop and has more action to it. 10/10