Cobra (1986)
Cobra, directed by George P. Cosmatos and starring Sylvester Stallone as Lt. Marion “Cobra” Cobretti, is a gritty, high-intensity action thriller that embraces the tough-as-nails style of 1980s cinema. Cobra is a member of the LAPD’s elite “Zombie Squad,” a unit called in when situations become too violent or dangerous for regular officers. Known for his no-nonsense attitude, signature sunglasses, and customized Colt .45, Cobra handles criminals with swift, decisive force.
The film opens with a chilling introduction to a violent cult known as “The New World.” Led by the terrifying Night Slasher (Brian Thompson), the group believes in creating a brutal new society by eliminating the weak. Their killings grow increasingly bold, leaving the police scrambling to identify and stop them.
Cobra becomes involved when Ingrid Knudsen (Brigitte Nielsen), a model, witnesses one of the cult’s murders. Now the only person who can identify the Night Slasher, she becomes their primary target. As the cult tightens its grip on the city, Cobra is assigned to protect her—but his extreme methods create tension within the police force, especially with bureaucratic superior Detective Monte, who constantly challenges Cobra’s tactics.
The situation escalates when the cult launches repeated attacks on Ingrid, demonstrating their coordination and brutality. Realizing Los Angeles is no longer safe for her, Cobra takes Ingrid out of the city in an attempt to keep her hidden. However, a corrupt police officer secretly aligned with the cult reveals their location, leading to a relentless rural assault that becomes one of the film’s most intense sequences.
The final act is a violent showdown in an industrial factory. Cobra battles waves of cult members before finally confronting the Night Slasher in a brutal, hand-to-hand fight. The Night Slasher, confident in his twisted philosophy of survival, taunts Cobra, but his brutality only reinforces Cobra’s resolve. The confrontation ends in a fiery, unforgettable finish as Cobra defeats the killer once and for all.
With the cult dismantled and Ingrid safe, Cobra walks away battered but unbroken—still the same hard-edged lone wolf who believes that justice must sometimes be delivered outside the lines. The film closes with Cobra riding off on his motorcycle, a classic Stallone-style hero who does the job no one else can.
