Cobra (1986)
Cobra follows Lieutenant Marion “Cobra” Cobretti, an elite Los Angeles police officer known for his ruthless efficiency and disregard for procedure. Operating within the “Zombie Squad,” a special police unit called in when standard law enforcement fails, Cobra represents the city’s last line of defense against extreme criminal threats.
The story begins with a tense supermarket hostage situation. While negotiators attempt to reason with the gunman, Cobra takes decisive action, killing the criminal and immediately establishing his reputation as a no-nonsense cop who believes violence must be met with violence. His methods draw criticism from politicians and fellow officers, but his results speak for themselves.
A series of brutal murders soon grips Los Angeles, all connected to a secretive cult known as the New Order. The group believes modern society is weak and corrupt and seeks to purge it through mass violence. Their leader, the Night Slasher, orchestrates random killings to spread fear and prepare for a larger campaign of destruction.
The cult targets Ingrid Knudsen, a model who witnesses one of their murders. Cobra is assigned to protect her, relocating her to a remote safe house while continuing to hunt the killers. As Cobra and Ingrid grow closer, the threat intensifies. The New Order infiltrates the police force, eliminating officers who stand in their way and tightening their pursuit.
Cobra’s investigation reveals that the cult plans a massive strike at an industrial plant. With limited backup and little trust in the system, Cobra takes matters into his own hands. He confronts the Night Slasher and his followers in a violent showdown filled with gunfire, explosions, and hand-to-hand combat.
The final battle takes place inside a steel mill, where Cobra faces the Night Slasher in a brutal duel. Using both weapons and raw strength, Cobra ultimately kills the cult leader, ending the New Order’s reign of terror. The remaining cult members are eliminated, restoring a fragile sense of order to the city.
The film concludes with Cobra and Ingrid walking away together, having survived the violence. Cobra remains unchanged—still an outsider within the police force, but confident in his role as a necessary enforcer.
Cobra is a product of its era, embracing hyper-stylized action, minimal dialogue, and an uncompromising moral code. Beneath the surface, the film reflects 1980s anxieties about urban crime and justice, presenting a hero who operates beyond the rules to protect society at any cost.
