This October, Synapse Films will bring Maniac Cop to Blu-ray. Directed by William Lustig (Maniac) the horror film tells the story of a former police officer (Robert Z'dar, Tango & Cash) butchering innocent civilians in New York City. Co-starring Tom Atkins (Drive Angry) and Bruce Campbell (Evil Dead II: Dead by Dawn) as the detectives trying to stop the deranged lawman, Maniac Cop went on to spawn two sequels - Maniac Cop 2 and Maniac Cop 3: Badge of Silence.
Synapse's Blu-ray presents the film with newly remastered 1080p picture and a DTS-HD Master Audio track. The disc also features a number of supplemental materials, including:
A shame Larry Cohen didn't keep directing his own scripts after 1985's "The Stuff".
William Lustig is a fairly by-the-numbers B-video director, but at least he knows a sneaky, button-pushing hi-concept Larry Cohen script when he sees one, and doesn't do TOO much damage to it.
Lustig and Cohen basically remade the same "Zombie uniform gone bad" concept in "Uncle Sam", and they're both good Cohen variations on the theme.
As with The Exterminator, there is a region free version of MC coming from Arrow Video in the UK.
It's mentioned on the UK site of blu-ray.com, but there are no details.
From thedigitalfix.com:
Arrow Video have announced the UK Blu-ray Disc release of Maniac Cop on 3rd October 2011. Notorious video nasty creator William Lustig and B-Movie legend Larry Cohen return to the dirty streets for a unique high speed collision of the slasher movie and police thriller in Maniac Cop, a blood splattered tale of brutal cop vengeance from beyond the grave.
Features include:
•Reversible sleeve with original and newly commissioned artwork
•Double-sided fold-out artwork poster
•Collector’s booklet featuring brand new writing on the film by author Troy Howarth and The Original Maniac: An interview with William Lustig, adapted from Calum Waddell's book Taboo Breakers
•Brand new High Definition transfer of film film (1.85:1)
•Original Stereo 2.0 Audio
•Optional English subtitles for the hearing impaired
•Exclusive UK introduction to the film from star Tom Atkins
•Doomed Detective: Tom Atkins on Maniac Cop
•Lady of the Night: Laurene Landon remembers Maniac Cop
•Scripting a new Slasher Super-Villain: Larry Cohen on Matt Cordell
•Trailer
Feature and extras are 1080/24p and the disc is Region ABC playable worldwide.
