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Matt Cordell
Matt Cordell
- Played By: Robert Z'Dar
Matt Cordell was one of the finest police officers to grace the NYPD, until his investigation of corruption in city hall went horribly wrong. He was framed for Police Brutality and sent to Sing Sing Prison, where he was attacked by three inmates who disfigured him, leaving him with severe brain damage (to the point of being left brain dead). Cordell returned years later as an undead monster to take revenge against the city for his death.
- Anti-Villain: With the exception of the first movie, this is how he's generally portrayed. His main goal is to expose the corruption of the NYPD, which he does by murdering innocents while in-uniform. At the end of the second movie, he flat-out pulls a Taking You with Me on his would-be partner, the Serial Killer Turkell.
- Being Tortured Makes You Evil: The damage to his brain may have driven him to his Face–Heel Turn.
- Composite Character: Of the vigilante traffic cop death squad from Magnum Force with more of a Slasher Movie vibe than the former.
- Face–Heel Turn: Possibly due to his damaged brain.
- Fallen Hero: He was a decorated and respected officer until he was framed for police brutality.
- The Quiet One: He only speaks twice in the entire series; once in the second film, and once in the third film.
Detective Frank McCrae
Lieutenant Detective Frank McCrae
- Played By: Tom Atkins
A detective who investigates Cordell's killings.
- Deadpan Snarker: McCrae has a rather dry wit he occasionally turns on his superiors.
- Decoy Protagonist: The film follows him until Cordell kills him during his assault on the police station.
- Driven to Suicide: After the death of his partner, it is implied that he had shot himself, though it is left ambiguous as to whether it was because the gun had discharged as McCrae claims.
- Only Sane Man: McCrae seems to be the only one willing to do anything about Cordell's killing spree, as Commissioner Pike, Captain Ripley, and Mayor Killium would rather cover it up and sit on their asses rather than expend any effort into catching Cordell.
Officer Jack Forrest
Officer Jack W. Forrest Jr.
- Played By: Bruce Campbell
A police officer who was framed for Cordell's murders, including that of his wife Ellen.
- Deadpan Snarker: It is a character played by Bruce Campbell, after all.
- Decoy Protagonist: The sequel focuses on him until he is stabbed in the neck by Cordell in the halfway point.
- Expy: His situation in the first act of the first film mirrors of that of Charlie McCoy from Magnum Force.
- My God, What Have I Done?: After realizing Ellen was killed, since she never would have died if he had stopped her from running off after discovering his affair.
- The Scapegoat: Cordell and Sally try to pin the murders on him, with Ripley and Pike perfectly willing to arrest him since it makes them look good.
Officer Theresa Mallory
Officer Theresa Mallory
- Played By: Laurene Landon
A police officer working in Vice Squad who was having an affair with Jack Forrest.
- Decoy Protagonist: In the first sequel. Her neck is broken by Cordell.
Captain Ripley
Captain Ripley
- Played By: William Smith
One of McCrae's superiors who serves as damage control for Cordell's killings.
- Bald of Evil: While not necessarily evil, Ripley is bald and a total Jerkass.
- Defiant to the End: When Cordell corners him, Ripley tries to take him on in a fist fight. It doesn't end well for him.
- False Friend: He seems to have been on good terms with Forrest, but eagerly allows him to be scapegoated for Cordell's killings.
- Jerkass: Ripley is a very unpleasant person, to say the least.
- Retirony: Ripley is close to retirement, and winds up being one of Cordell's victims.
Commissioner Pike
Commissioner Pike
- Played By: Richard Roundtree
The commissioner of the NYPD, who had a hand in Cordell's unjust imprisonment.
- Asshole Victim: It's really hard to feel bad for him when Cordell finally kills him.
- In the Back: Cordell kills him by stabbing him in the back.
- Jerkass: Pike is heavily implied to be corrupt, perfectly willing to scapegoat McCrae and Forrest for Cordell's killing spree, and is lazy and incompetent at his job.
- Lazy Bum: Pike does absolutely nothing about Cordell, preferring to cover up the killings. Not only that, but when McCrae calls him on it, he implicitly threatens to frame McCrae as the killer.
- Obstructive Bureaucrat: Pike would rather let Cordell run amok rather than deal with the problem. While he justifies it as making sure the populace isn't afraid of the police, that still doesn't change the fact that he makes no attempt to actually stop Cordell.
Officer Sally Noland
Officer Sally Noland
- Played By: Sheree North
Cordell's girlfriend who attempts to aid him in his revenge.
- The Dragon: Cordell's accomplice and the main source of his inside information.
- Evil Cripple: She is disabled and Cordell's accomplice.
- Karmic Death: Is killed by the same undead monster she's been protecting once she's no longer useful to him.
- Madness Mantra: "HE KNOWS! HE KNOWS!"
- You Have Outlived Your Usefulness: Cordell kills her after serving him.
- Villainous Breakdown: Has a meltdown once she realizes Cordell no longer has any use for her. Shrieking, she beats Frank with her cane until his hand is broken again.
Mayor Jerry Killium
Mayor Jerry Killium
- Played By: Ken Lerner
The corrupt mayor of New York City who is in perpetual fear of Cordell taking revenge on him for his hand in Cordell's imprisonment.
- The Alcoholic: After learning Cordell is responsible for the recent killings, Killium spends the remainder of the film getting utterly sloshed.
- Asshole Victim: Double Subverted. The film ends with Killium celebrating Cordell's apparent death, only for Cordell to covertly enter his office. The film ends on the sounds of Killium's screams.
- Corrupt Bureaucrat: Killium had connections to the mob, and sent Cordell to Sing Sing fully aware he would likely be killed by the inmates to shut him up.
- Dirty Coward: Once he realizes that Cordell has returned and is responsible for the murder spree, Killium spends the rest of the film in his office getting drunk.
- Jerkass: Killium is corrupt and caused Cordell's descent into villainy, helps cover up the murders, cares only about himself, and is a total coward.
- Satellite Character: His far more sensible and moral aide.
Ellen Forrest
Ellen Forrest
- Played By: Victoria Catlin
Officer Bremmer
Officer Bremmer
- Played By: Corey Michael Eubanks
Steven Turkell
Steven Turkell
- Played By: Leo Rossi
A Serial Killer who targets strippers, teaming up with Cordell in the second movie.
- Beard of Evil: Has a really thick beard that covers up much of his face.
- The Dragon: To Cordell, at least until he realizes that Cordell never had any intention of helping him build his army of death row inmates.
- Faux Affably Evil: He seems like a jovial party animal, though only when it suits his agenda.
- The Scourge of God: He believes himself to be doing God's work by disposing of strippers.
- Too Dumb to Live: Turns out that stabbing the hulking, undead policeman who's already on fire and clearly not being deterred by it is not such a smart idea after all.
