Cobra (1986)

User Rating:

4.8/10   

Director:

George P. Cosmatos

Writers:

Paula Gosling (novel)
Sylvester Stallone (screenplay)

Release Date:

23 May 1986 (USA)

Genre:

Action | Crime | Thriller

Tagline:

Crime is the disease. Meet the Cure.

Plot:

City cop is on the trail of a serial killer. Loaded with action and violence. Stallone fans will love...

Plot Keywords:

Witness | Psychopath | Police | Supermarket | Detective

Awards:

6 nominations

Cast

Sylvester Stallone	...	Lieutenant Marion 'Cobra' Cobretti
Brigitte Nielsen	...	Ingrid
Reni Santoni	...	Sergeant Gonzales
Andrew Robinson	...	Detective Monte
Brian Thompson	...	Night Slasher
John Herzfeld	...	Cho
Lee Garlington	...	Nancy Stalk
Art LaFleur	...	Captain Sears (as Art La Fleur)
Marco Rodríguez	...	Supermarket Killer (as Marco Rodriguez)
Ross St. Phillip	...	Security Guard
Val Avery	...	Chief Halliwell
David Rasche	...	Dan
John Hauk	...	Low Rider
Nick Angotti	...	Prodski
Nina Axelrod	...	Waitress

Runtime:

87 min | Germany:73 min (heavily cut) | Finland:78 min (cut)

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Color:

Color (Technicolor)

Aspect Ratio:

1.85 : 1

Sound Mix:

70 mm 6-Track (70 mm prints) | Ultra Stereo (35 mm prints) (as Eagle Stereo)

Certification:

Iceland:16 | Germany:18 (JK/SPIO) (re-release) (uncut) | West Germany:18 (cut) | Finland:K-16 (cut) | UK:18 (cut) | Finland:K-18 (cut) (1990) | Finland:K-18 (cut) (1986) | Brazil:14 | Australia:R | Canada:14A | Finland:K-18 | France:-12 | Sweden:15 | USA:R | Mexico:C | Singapore:PG | Canada:13+ (Quebec) | Norway:18 (video premiere) (1989) (cut) | Norway:(Banned) (1986-2003) (cinema release) | Germany:BPjM Restricted

Filming Locations:

Los Angeles, California, USA

Company:

Cannon Group

Trivia:

Reni Santori's character in Cobra is Sgt. Gonzales. In Dirty Harry (1971), Santori's character was also named Gonzales (Harry's partner, Chico).

Goofs:

Continuity: When Cobra is chasing Slasher down the alley way, as they approach the end we can very clearly see the rear of Slasher's car. Specifically, the bumper bar is dragging along the pavement. In the next scene, and for the remainder of the car chase for that matter, the bumper bar is attached. At the same time, the car (a 1979 Plymouth Volaré) is seen with a front grille during the alley scene although the passenger side fender was bashed in one scene (in subsequent scenes, the fender is undamaged). The overall condition of the Volaré changes frequently (in some scenes, the car has all of its front lighting missing to one headlight and one park lens).

Quotes:

Gonzales: You know, when this is over with, I'd like to celebrate, by punching a hole in Monte's chest!
Marion Cobretti: You know what the trouble with you is? You're too violent!

Movie Connections:

Referenced in Operation Dance Sensation (2003) (V)

Soundtrack:

Two into one

Very Underrated

This film deserves much more credit than it has received. Stallone is looking great with tight jeans and stubble chewing on a matchstick which comes in handy in the final bloodshed showdown. Stallone plays Marion Cobretti in a superb action packed thriller filled with one liners in a funny relationship with his partner played by Reni Santoni, sexual tension with his female witness in protective custody played by his then wife Brigitte Nielsen and a raging fury from Stallone intent on eliminating the ruthless killers headed by Brian Thompson (Arnold Schwarzenegger rips his heart out in The Terminator and Jean-Claude Van Damme knocks him out with one kick in Lionheart). These people mean business and Andrew Robinson (Scorpio in Dirty Harry) thinks that a subtle solution can easily be thought of to take them out but it is only Stallone's violent tactics that can ultimately save the day. Essentially Rambo with a badge with the heart of Rocky. Stallone fans will be very pleased in a film that combines all areas of cinema, not just action. Comedy, romance and a great cast complement this already excellent film that Stallone has written which incorporates material from Beverly Hills Cop when he was meant to play Axel Foley. Better that Eddie Murphy Played it because Stallone has a chance to make this two years on. Trivia: Eddie Murphy looks at the Cobra poster in Judge Reinhold's bedroom in Beverly Hills Cop II that Brigitte Nielsen is also in. If you like the Dirty Harry films, Steven Seagal cop films and a Stallone fan in general this is a great film with an excellent soundtrack. Talking of Steven Seagal and soundtrcks, on the trailer for Seagal's Marked For Death it features "Chase", a Sylvester LeVay track from Cobra.