7.2 | / 10 |
Users | 4.2 | |
Reviewer | 4.0 | |
Overall | 4.0 |
This sequel to Maniac Cop pits Matt Cordell (Robert Z'dar), the crazed, murderous "Maniac Cop" of the first film (now horribly disfigured after a particularly brutal stay in prison), and Turkel (Leo Rossi), a serial killer who likes to murder strippers, against a frenzied NYPD detective, Sean McKinney (Robert Davi), who is just one step ahead of a nervous breakdown.
Starring: Robert Davi, Claudia Christian, Bruce Campbell, Michael Lerner, Robert Z'DarHorror | 100% |
Thriller | 2% |
Crime | Insignificant |
Action | Insignificant |
Video codec: HEVC / H.265
Video resolution: 4K (2160p)
Aspect ratio: 1.85:1
Original aspect ratio: 1.85:1
English: Dolby Atmos
English: Dolby TrueHD 7.1 (48kHz, 24-bit)
English: DTS-HD Master Audio 2.0 (48kHz, 24-bit)
English SDH, French, German, Italian, Japanese, Portuguese, Spanish, Danish, Dutch, Finnish, Korean, Mandarin (Simplified), Mandarin (Traditional), Norwegian, Russian, Swedish
Blu-ray Disc
Two-disc set (2 BDs)
4K Ultra HD
Slipcover in original pressing
Region free
Movie | 3.5 | |
Video | 5.0 | |
Audio | 5.0 | |
Extras | 4.0 | |
Overall | 4.0 |
Bill Lustig's "Maniac Cop 2" (1990) arrives on 4K Blu-ray courtesy of Blue Underground. The supplemental features on the disc include original trailers; Q&A session with director Lustig; informative featurette with cast and crew interviews; collection of posters, advertising materials, lobby cards, color stills, B&W stills, behind the scenes stills, deleted Sam Raimi scene, and VHS covers; isolated music score; and audio commentary with director Lustig and Danish filmmaker Nicolas Winding Refn. In English, with optional English SDH, French (Canadian), Spanish (Latin America), Portuguese (Brazil), Spanish, French (Parisian), German, Italian, Mandarin (Traditional), Mandarin (Simplified), Korean, Japanese, Russian, Danish, Dutch, Swedish, Finnish, and Norwegian subtitles for the main feature. Region-Free.
The 4K Blu-ray release of Maniac Cop 2 is a combo pack with 4K Blu-ray and Blu-ray copies of the film. Both are sourced from the 4K restoration of the film that was supervised and approved by director Bill Lustig in 2013. The same restoration was initially introduced on Blu-ray. You can see our listing and review of this release here.
The screencaptures that are included with this article are from the 4K Blu-ray disc, but are downscaled to 1080p. Therefore, when you view them, you should keep in mind that they do not accurately reflect the quality of the 4K content on the 4K Blu-ray disc, including the actual color values of this content.
In native 4K and with the HDR grade the film looks better balanced, with darker areas where the neon lighting becomes prominent revealing some of the most notable improvements. Shadow definition looks outstanding, but I don't think that the transition from 1080p to 4K produces any serious upgrades. Grain is much more refined, which means that you should expect tighter and overall smoother visuals. (This isn't the digital type of smoothness, but that wonderful organic smoothness only very high-quality 4K masters produce). If you view your films on a big screen, I think that you will immediately appreciate the positive difference. Fluidity is excellent. Better than that of the Blu-ray release? Yes, because the entire 4K restoration looks tighter in native 4K. Color balance is perfect. In fact, I think that the nighttime footage is so impressive that it can and should be used as demo material. There are no stability issues. The entire film looks spotless as well.
*The 4K Blu-ray and Blu-ray releases are Region-Free.
There are two standard audio tracks on the 4K Blu-ray release: English Dolby Atmos and English DTS-HD Master Audio 2.0. Optional English SDH, French, German, Italian, Japanese, Portuguese, Spanish, Danish, Dutch, Finnish, Korean, Mandarin (Simplified), Mandarin (Traditional), Norwegian, Russian, and Swedish subtitles are provided for the main feature.
The Dolby Atmos track was created exclusively for this release and it is the one I used to view the film in native 4K. I think that it is a rock-solid audio track with incredible fidelity and dynamic oomph, but I would be lying if I wrote that it is vastly superior to the DTS-HD Master Audio 7.1 track from the Blu-ray release. Frankly, I think that the overwhelming majority of viewers will have a very difficult time identifying any specific areas where the Dolby Atmos track offers meaningful improvements. Both tracks are really, really good, so ultimately choosing the 'best' track is a matter of preference.
The DTS-HD Master Audio 2.0 track is a nice option too, and in fact it can compete with the Dolby Atmos track just as well.
4K BLU-RAY DISC
It is pretty obvious at this point that the titles the folks at Blue Underground are releasing on 4K Blu-ray will never ever have to be upgraded again because they feature astonishing technical presentations of impeccable restorations. This upcoming 4K Blu-ray release of Maniac Cop 2 is another stunner, so if you like the film give yourself an early holiday present. Hopefully, next year Blue Underground will begin bringing previously unreleased titles to 4K Blu-ray, and perhaps even double its output. There are so many special genre films that can use the Blue Underground treatment. HIGHLY RECOMMENDED.
Unrated Version
1993
1988
2013
2011
2018
2019
2012
1986
Unrated
2005
Collector's Edition
1988
2012
Unrated
2010
Unrated Edition
2006
2005
2018
2017
2014
2019
2015
Legions of the Dead
2011