New Book ‘This City Is Going to Hell: The Making of Maniac Cop’ Dives Deep into the Trilogy
- Kris Avalon
- Feb 20
- 2 min read
I have been a fan of the Maniac Cop trilogy since I was a kid, and had a lot of fun digging into all three of the movies. Another fan is author Paul Downey – and he’s such a fan of the trilogy, he has written a 261-page book about it! Now available from Harker Press, Downey’s book is called This City is Going to Hell: The Making of Maniac Cop, and you can pick up a copy – hardcover, paperback, or Kindle – on Amazon.
via: Bloody DIsgusting
Harker Press, the team behind books including The Soul of Wes Craven, Nightmare Autopsis, and Icons of Fright, is back to shine a fresh spotlight on the cult classic Maniac Cop franchise. Exploring the complete trilogy from director William Lustig, This City Is Going to Hell: The Making of Maniac Cop is now available in paperback, hardcover, and eBook.
Harker Press previews the new release, “In 1988, audiences were introduced to Officer Matt Cordell, a wronged cop turned slasher-avenger who stalked the streets of New York City and carved out a permanent place in horror history. Two sequels and nearly four decades later, Cordell’s status as a genre icon remains firmly cemented.
“Now, author Paul Downey takes readers deep inside the making and legacy of the Maniac Cop series with his new book, This City Is Going to Hell: The Making of Maniac Cop. Drawing on extensive research and exclusive interviews, Downey delivers the most comprehensive chronicle of the trilogy ever assembled.”
“It’s exciting to me that the Maniac Cop franchise is finally getting such a long-overdue examination,” says Harker Press owner Dustin McNeill. “This is the first book of its kind and, as such, it’s brimming with new information that fans are going to love. If you’re ready to explore this franchise down to the tiniest minutiae, then this book is for you!”
Packed with never-before-seen photos, untold stories, and firsthand accounts from the filmmakers and cast, the book offers an unflinching look at the creative triumphs, behind-the-scenes conflicts, and enduring appeal of one of horror cinema’s most unique franchises. The volume also features a capstone discussion with legendary trilogy director William Lustig, reflecting on the films’ origins, challenges, and legacy.
Part production history, part cultural retrospective, and part celebration of independent genre filmmaking, This City Is Going to Hell: The Making of Maniac Cop is essential reading for horror fans, film historians, and anyone fascinated by the gritty, no-holds-barred era of exploitation cinema.
Highlights of the book include:
Newly uncovered info on the films’ effects and makeup
Harrowing stories of stunts gone wrong
Revealing details on deleted scenes and alternate endings
An exploration of the original, unmade version of Maniac Cop 3
Coverage of the long-developing Maniac Cop remake
A close examination of the recent Maniac Cop novelizations
A warm and heartfelt tribute to genre icon Robert Z’Dar
A look at the Psycho Cop franchise, including a rare interview with star Robert R. Shafer
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