Cop vs. Killer

NOW ON TUBI! In Matthew Page’s action/horror Cop vs. Killer, a police officer is on the run when someone posing as him goes on a killing spree. For Sheriff Abrams (Matthew Page), today is just like any other day. He drives his beat around town responding to calls, including a family man illegally burning trash in his backyard, a local politician, and his escort. Most people in town think he’s a dirty cop as he is still reeling over an incident surrounding a series of deaths. Abrams does his best to regain the trust of his community but to no avail. The only one by his side is Deputy Rogers (Julia Zhang) and his family, Jessica (Jamie Bernadette) and daughter,

Meanwhile, a prison transport is passing through town carrying a serial killer (Kevin Conan Bankens). Like all psychotic villains, the killer is able to free himself and take out the officers guarding him, along with a pair of social media influencers who unluckily happen to pass by. After stealing their car, the killer is pulled over by Sheriff Abram. The killer gets the best of him and steals his police car and gear. Being the psychopath that he is, the killer goes through AbAbram’s police computer to track down everyone he dealt with that day and plans to murder them all.

Left for dead, Abrams manages to get help from a passing car only to find that radio and television reports say that he is responsible for a series of killings over the last few hours, and the state police have been called to take him down. Now, he is the only one chasing the real killer in order to clear his name.

Cop vs. Killer is an indie production, and most of its flaws come from the fact that the budget was small and the production values were minimal, which means it falls right in the Film Threat wheelhouse. The most notable problems comes in the cinematography. Much of the film is spent in cars, and it struggles to seamlessly blend transitions from exterior to interior shots. I also wish the scenes involving newscasts felt like it was a live broadcast. There really needs to be a differentiation between a newscast when it cuts to the “real life” scenes of the film. In other words, television has a different feel than film. I know this is a minor quibble, but I notice those things.

“…he is the only one chasing the real killer in order to clear his name.”

As Sherrif Abrams, Matthew Page also takes on the writing and directing duties. He is amazing as the misunderstood cop with a particular set of skills. Kevin Conan Bankens is cast perfectly as the sheriff’s dark doppelganger. The most fun comes from the supporting cast of hapless victims. Everyone is given enough leash to make light of the demise while severe enough to wince at the final blow to the Great Beyond.

What Cop vs. Killer has going for it is its head-on dive into B-movie making. The kills are a bit cheesy and over the top. The overall look and feel of the film are a Michael Myers or Jason-like serial killer posing as a cop. Our villain moves from one kill to the next, looking for new and bizarre ways of killing. One young woman falls victim to death by flashlight, and it’s shot like a three-act play. There is a simple use of blood and guts, and while much of the violence and gore is off-scene, the cutaways are perfectly timed, forcing our brains to fill in the horrific gaps.

Storywise, Cop vs. Killer walks down the standard slasher path. Our hero cop goes about his business, and the killer leaves death and destruction in both their wakes. The film finds its unique take in how the cop and killer’s actions become intertwined, leading the town to believe our hero is the killer. In other words, the killer stalks the cop to the point where the two form a very personal bond without ever crossing paths until the end.

Though its low budget keeps it far from being a perfect film, Cop vs. Killer is a bloody fun ride with a kitschy wink or two of the camera.

Cop vs. Killer can be streamed for free on Tubi.