THE MOVIE — 3.25/5

Note: This review does contain some MAJOR PLOT SPOILERS, so reader beware.

Plot Synopsis: Imagine a movie where Paul Kersey from Death Wish got a badge. You would get 10 to Midnight, a movie starring Charles Bronson as police detective Leo Kessler who is hunting down a serial murderer, stabbing several women while in the buff. However, the killer, Warren Stacy (GENE DAVIS), is elusive and when no evidence exists to put him away, Kessler does all he can, including planting evidence no less, to take him down, especially when Stacy sets his sights on Kessler’s daughter (LISA EILBACHER).

Review: Generally, I enjoy Charles Bronson’s movies. No, he’s not some amazing actor or anything but he brought a certain gravitas to any of his roles from his violence vigilante in the aforementioned Kersey character in the Death Wish franchise to his part in the Western ensemble, The Magnificent Seven and the war-drama, X-15. Here, I did like him but when Kessler actually plants the blood evidence, it was a bit hard to emphasize with the character, even though yes Stacy was indeed the killer. And then we get to the finale, gun drawn on the Stacy and, having been (rightfully) fired, performs vigilante justice… then credits role leaving out the part Kessler likely would’ve been arrested and charged at the very least for second degree murder.

In any case, the supporting cast was pretty decent. Andrew Stevens was good as Bronson’s rookie and morally-centered partner while Lisa Eilbacher (was the female lead in Beverly Hills Cop) was a lot of fun, playing well off of both Stevens and Bronson.

10 to Midnight is hardly perfect and as crime-dramas go, is probably most notable for being fairly violent with some graphic nudity thrown in. It was helmed by J. Lee Thompson (Happy Birthday to Me) and through his career, worked with Bronson a total of nine times (including Death Wish 4 and his final film, Kinjite: Forbidden Subjects).

Despite my issues with the Kessler character on moral grounds, there was a decent amount of entertainment in this brutal 1980s-era crime-drama, if only to see Bronson’s intensity facing off against Gene Davis’s utterly crazy and admittedly brave performance. If you haven’t seen this movie before, and are a fan of Bronson, this is well worth checking out.

SPECIAL FEATURES – 3.25/5

This release from Shout’s Scream Factory line includes a matted slip cover and the interior cover is reversible revealing the film’s original poster artwork. All of the features that were on the (sold out) Twilight Time release are available here as well.

Audio Commentaries:

• Author Paul Talbott
• Producer Pancho Kohner, Casting Director John Crowther and Film Historian David Del Valle

These are pretty tracks with the first, new to this release, giving a more historical perspective about Bronson and the themes presented in the movie while the second, which I believe was recorded for the Twilight Time release, gives more of a first-hand account with Del Valle serving well as a moderating but also expanding on the history of the project.

Interviews:

• Producing Bronson (12:41; HD) – Producer Lance Hool
• Remembering Bronson (6:00; HD) – Actor Robert F. Lyons (Nathan Zager)
• Knife and Death (6:55; HD) – Actress Jeana Tomasina (Karen)
• Charlie’s Partner (10:46; HD) – Actor Andrew Stevens (Paul McAnn)

All of these new interviews are pretty good, offering glimpses at the production behind the movie with Hool giving a more nuanced look on the financial side while the actors provide their on-set stories, like working with Charles Bronson.

Rounding things out is the Theatrical Trailer (2:14; HD), a few Radio Spots (1:39; HD) and an Image Gallery (6:56; HD).

VIDEO – 4.75/5

AUDIO – 4.25/5

OVERALL – 3.75/5

Overall, 10 to Midnight may not be top-quality Charles Bronson though story wise, the writing, even my personal qualms of a detective doing what he does, is far stronger than Death Wish, and the film does showcase some decent performances including Bronson himself. This Collector’s Edition Blu-ray from Shout Factory offers up excellent video and above average audio transfers and a good selection of bonus features.

THE MOVIE — 2.25/5

Lt. Cobretti (SYLVESTER STALLONE) is a one-man assault team whose laser-mount submachine gun and pearl-handled Colt .45 spit pure crime-stopping venom. Cobretti is part of the police department’s “Zombie Squad”, called upon for situations that require less finesse and more violence.

There is a serial killer on the loose and as the bodies continue to pile up, Cobretti is allowed on the case and they get a break when model Ingrid (BRIGITTE NIELSEN) gets a good view of one of the “Night Slasher” (BRIAN THOMPSON) himself. Unfortunately for her, not only is the Slasher not alone, but his accomplices, one an police officer, get her plates and soon enough begin targeting her. Of course, if they had done nothing, they’d be in the clear… In any case, she is placed under police protection, though she’s hardly out of trouble and Cobretti, with partner Detective Gonzalez (RENI SANTONI), take her on the road in order to outrun what increasingly looks like some sort of cult that wants her dead… for some odd reason.

Cobra from a story standpoint makes absolutely no sense at all. The set-up seemed simple enough with a serial killer, a take on the Night Stalker who was active around the time of this film’s release, and would’ve been an interesting action-crime vehicle but what we get instead is the Night Slasher being part of some strange cult whose basic motto is survival of the fittest because the times were violent… or something. Such sloppy writing intermixed with poor character development, and a main character in Cobra who was utterly reckless, following the cult’s attempted attack on Ingrid, Cobra begins to chase them down… with his star witness in the passenger and damn near killing her in the process. And yet, this carelessness was never really brought up.

And even beyond the poorly written plot, from Sylvester Stallone who was the sole-credited screenwriter, and terrible character development, the performances weren’t much better, most notably Stallone who looked rather bored more than engaged. Brigitte Nielsen I suppose was fine in the damsel-in-distress role (and that’s all she really was) while Brian Thompson as the Night Slasher was, at times, scary I guess.

All of that said, the direction had its moments. Cobra re-teams Stallone with Rambo: First Blood Part 2 director George P. Cosmatos, which was released a year before this film. There were at least some interesting shots and I will say, some of the stunt work and action sequences weren’t too bad, keeping this from being a complete dud.

SPECIAL FEATURES – 4.0/5

This release comes with a matted slip cover, however no reversible cover artwork this time.

Audio Commentary – Director George P. Cosmatos. This is, obviously since he died back in 2005, an older track as the filmmaker chats it up providing some basic information about the production though this is rather dry at times and probably could’ve used a moderator to keep things flowing.

Interviews:

• Stalking and Slashing (26:00; HD) – Actor Brian Thompson (Night Slasher)
• Meet the Disease (24:05; HD) – Actor Marco Rodriguez (Supermarket Killer)
• Feel the Heat (14:15; HD) – Actor Andy Robinson (Detective Monte)
• Double Crossed (9:05; HD) – Actress Lee Garlington (Nancy Stalk)
• A Work of Art (8:23; HD) – Actor Art LaFleur (Captain Sears)

Brian Thompson’s interview alone is worth the price of admission as he told vivid tales from the set and was quite honest about his experience, including not having a whole lot of positive things to say about Cosmatos. These other interviews, though, were also rather engaging, with Robinson revealing a twist with his character that was changed at the end, in their own respects as well giving their career histories and personal work on the project.

Vintage Featurette (7:50) is from back in 1985/86 with behind-the-scenes footage and on-set interviews with Stallone, Nielsen and Cosmatos.

The disc also includes the Teaser Trailer (1:20; HD), Theatrical Trailer (1:55; HD) and two Still Galleries.

VIDEO – 4.0/5

AUDIO – 4.0/5

OVERALL – 3.25/5

Overall, Cobra isn’t a very good movie… at all and rather a second (or third) rate Stallone action-thriller with minimal to no character development and an utterly ridiculous plot, or more to the point villain(s) and motives. Still, some of the action scenes were at least decent. This “Collector’s Edition” Blu-ray release has good video/audio transfers and a nice set of new interviews.