Cobra (1986)
Cobra (1986) is a gritty action-thriller directed by George P. Cosmatos and starring Sylvester Stallone as a tough, rule-breaking cop in a city plagued by violent crime. The film blends the aesthetics of 1980s action cinema with the lone-hero narrative, as Stallone’s character takes on a ruthless criminal cult.
Stallone plays Lieutenant Marion “Cobra” Cobretti, a member of the Los Angeles Police Department’s elite “Zombie Squad,” known for handling the city’s most dangerous criminals. Cobra is a no-nonsense, heavily armed enforcer who doesn’t hesitate to use deadly force when necessary. When a crazed gunman holds people hostage in a supermarket, Cobra is called in and quickly neutralizes the threat, revealing his lethal efficiency and disdain for bureaucratic red tape.
Meanwhile, the city is being terrorized by a secretive, ultraviolent cult known as “The New Order,” led by the sadistic “Night Slasher” (Brian Thompson). The cult is made up of killers who believe in a twisted philosophy of social Darwinism, targeting the weak to create a stronger society through chaos and bloodshed. They commit a string of brutal murders, and the police are baffled.
The case takes a turn when a fashion model, Ingrid Knudsen (Brigitte Nielsen), becomes the sole witness to one of the cult’s killings. After surviving an assassination attempt, she is placed under protective custody. Cobra is assigned to protect her, and as he gets closer to Ingrid, he uncovers the full extent of the cult’s influence—including possible connections within the police force itself.
As the cult relentlessly pursues Ingrid, Cobra and his partner Gonzalez (Reni Santoni) go on the run with her, trying to stay one step ahead of their pursuers. The film culminates in a violent showdown in a remote steel mill, where Cobra faces off against the Night Slasher in a brutal, personal fight. Cobra ultimately defeats the killer, ending the cult’s reign of terror.
The movie concludes with Cobra rejecting the offers of praise and recognition, instead riding off on his motorcycle with Ingrid, having once again served justice his own way.
Cobra is a fast-paced, stylized action film that showcases Stallone’s hard-edged persona. With its dark tone, intense action sequences, and minimalist dialogue, it became a cult favorite and a defining example of 1980s action cinema.
