In 1988, audiences were introduced to Officer Matt Cordell, a wronged cop turned slasher-avenger who stalked the streets of New York City and carved out a permanent place in horror history. Two sequels and nearly four decades later, Cordell’s status as a genre icon remains firmly cemented.
Now, author Paul Downey takes readers deep inside the making and legacy of the Maniac Cop series with his new book, This City is Going to Hell: The Making of Maniac Cop. Drawing on extensive research and exclusive interviews, Downey delivers the most comprehensive chronicle of the trilogy ever assembled.
Packed with never-before-seen photos, untold stories, and firsthand accounts from the filmmakers, the book offers an unflinching look at the creative triumphs, behind-the-scenes conflicts, and enduring appeal of one of horror cinema’s most unique franchises. The volume also features a capstone discussion with legendary trilogy director William Lustig, reflecting on the films’ origins, challenges, and legacy.
Highlights of the book include:
• Newly uncovered info on the films’ effects and makeup
• Harrowing stories of stunts gone wrong
• Details on deleted scenes and alternate endings
• An exploration of the original, unmade version of MC3
• Coverage of the long-developing Maniac Cop remake
• An examination of the recent novelizations
• A warm tribute to genre icon Robert Z’Dar
261 Pages, Full Color, 2026.
FEATURING NEWLY DECLASSIFIED CASE FILES ON THE ENTIRE FRANCHISE!
AND SEVENTEEN ORIGINAL INTERVIEWS WITH CAST/CREW!
Part production history, part cultural retrospective, and part celebration of independent genre filmmaking, This City is Going to Hell: The Making of Maniac Cop is essential reading for horror fans, film historians, and anyone fascinated by the gritty, no-holds-barred era of exploitation cinema.
Additional Points of Interest:
-
Read about how the original Maniac Cop started filming months before the first script page had even been written!
-
Read about why Cordell’s look had to be legally changed for MC2!
-
Read about the controversial Psycho Cop, including a rare interview with star Robert R. Shafer (The Office)!
-
Read about the franchise’s many cameos, both featured and deleted!
-
Read newly uncovered information on filming locations, including a surprising Halloween connection for Maniac Cop 3!
-
Read the story behind the infamous “Maniac Cop Rap” from Maniac Cop 2!
-
Read about casting changes, forced script re-writes, and investor meddling!
-
And so much more!
Click
to see
Larger
ABOUT THE AUTHOR
Paul Downey is a freelance author based in Newcastle-under-Lyme in the UK. He works full time in Marketing and has also written books on the Black Christmas movies and Jaws: The Revenge. He is a keen amateur cinephile, especially for the horror genre plus a wide range of exploitation cinema.
To contact Harker Press with questions, comments, or requests for review copies of the book, you can email:
Also Available From Harker Press (click to learn more)
