Rent Cobra (1986)

Trashy but also strangely really memorable cult film, just don't pay attention to the politics - Cobra review by TB

Coming strangely enough from what was originally the Beverly Hills Cop script that Stallone was writing, this is a real mess of a film, both in its politics and narrative choices.

The LA depicted in this film is so depraved and violent, it's a wonder that anyone wanted to live there. In particular, as a friend of mine put it, "There's no other reason for crime other than evil people who do bad things and need to be killed." But there is also a ludicrous energy to the film that makes it strangely watchable.

And nowhere is that more prevalent than the relentless pursuit of Ingrid Knudsen, the lead female character. In the early parts of the film, she witnesses a massacre with the leader of the group. The group are then determined to track her down and kill her, presumably to stop her identifying them. And the way that they attempt to do this is not stealthy, but to literally turn up with machine guns and slaughter EVERYONE they can see, hoping that they'll hit her in the crossfire, thus drawing massive attention to themselves.

It's all very very silly, but it also is really nasty at points, showing itself to almost be a precursor to Rambo: Last Blood. But there is absolutely fun to be had here, especially on a Friday night watching it with mates.