A killer dressed in a police uniform begins murdering innocent people on the streets of New York City.
Practical Effects
Robert Z'Dar's terrifying jawline made of practical effects and pure nightmare fuel
Stunts
NYC car chase chaos that feels dangerously unpermitted
Direction
Lustig's sleazy 42nd Street energy in every frame
Director
William Lustig
Tom Atkins
Frank McCrae
Bruce Campbell
Jack Forrest
Laurene Landon
Theresa Mallory
Richard Roundtree
Commissioner Pike
William Smith
Captain Ripley
Robert Z'Dar
Matt Cordell
Sheree North
Sally Noland
Nina Arvesen
Regina Sheperd
Victoria Catlin
Ellen Forrest
James Dixon
Clancy
Corey Michael Eubanks
Bremmer
Jill Gatsby
Cassie Philips
Trivia, insights & behind the scenes
Robert Z'Dar's real-life mandibular prognathism made his chin so distinctive that director William Lustig cast him specifically for that unsettling silhouette.
Released during the 1980s crack epidemic and rising police brutality awareness, the film weaponized real urban fear of law enforcement—making it accidentally political grindhouse.
US
