Cobra (1986)
Cobra follows Lieutenant Marion “Cobra” Cobretti, a tough, no-nonsense Los Angeles police officer who operates by his own rules. While the city’s crime rate spirals out of control, Cobretti believes the justice system is too soft on violent criminals. His brutal efficiency and disregard for bureaucracy place him at odds with his superiors, but his results are undeniable.
The story begins with a hostage crisis in a supermarket, where Cobretti single-handedly neutralizes an armed gunman. His aggressive approach draws criticism from city officials, yet his skills make him indispensable. Soon after, a string of violent murders begins terrorizing Los Angeles. The killings are linked to a cult-like criminal organization known as the “New Order,” a group that believes society must be purged of the weak to allow a new, stronger civilization to rise.
Key to the case is Ingrid Knudsen, a successful fashion model who witnesses one of the murders. When the New Order marks her for death, Cobretti is assigned to protect her. Though initially guarded and emotionally distant, Cobretti slowly forms a bond with Ingrid as they flee relentless assassination attempts.
As they travel across California, the New Order’s attacks grow increasingly savage. The group is led by the Night Slasher, a cold and fanatical killer who sees Ingrid’s survival as a threat to the movement’s ideology. Despite police skepticism and internal resistance, Cobretti follows his instincts, uncovering the scale of the conspiracy and the cult’s violent plans.
The pursuit leads to a climactic confrontation at an industrial foundry. Outnumbered but unyielding, Cobretti faces the Night Slasher and his followers in a brutal showdown. Using both firearms and sheer determination, he eliminates the cult members one by one. In a final moment of defiance, Cobretti kills the Night Slasher, bringing the killing spree to an end.
With the New Order destroyed, Ingrid is safe, though shaken by the ordeal. Cobretti, unchanged by public approval or departmental politics, returns to his solitary role on the fringes of the police force. He remains a symbol of extreme law enforcement, willing to cross moral and legal boundaries to protect innocent lives.
Cobra reflects the hard-edged vigilante spirit of 1980s action cinema. Beneath its stylized violence and minimal dialogue lies a simple message: when society’s rules fail, survival may depend on those willing to enforce justice at any cost.
