• Straight to Video
• Director: J.R. Bookwalter
• Written by: Matthew Jason Walsh
• Running Time: 70 minutes
• Language: English
• MPAA Rating: UNRATED
• Cast: Leo Anastasio, James Black, David DeCoteau, Michael Kemper, Bill Morrison, Bogdan Pecic, Budd Palmer, Scott P. Plummer, Christina M. Bookwalter, Matthew Jason Walsh, Dusty Riffle, Nick Riffle, J.R. Bookwalter, Anthony Hughes, Ashley Hughes, Kelly Tremmel

"Zombie Cop" is an early SOV release from E.I. Film & Video and is deemed to be so completely unmatchable by its very own creators, director, J.R. Bookwalter, and writer,  Matthew Jason Walsh, that they have all but disowned it in recent years. The pair have utilized any occasion, including interviews and discussion forums, to disparage the film. To be honest, however, it really isn’t all that bad, and is far removed from Walsh and Bookwalter's notion that "Zombie Cop" is really just ‘a bad home video that should never have been released‘. Loaded with shoot-outs, a car chase, multiple murders, gore and a cameo appearance from legendary micro-budget filmmaker David DeCoteau (1987's "Creepozoids"), "Zombie Cop" manages to cram quite a lot of thrills into its 70 minute running time. Technically, the film is failure, with some absolutely atrocious editing, and almost non-extistent continuity. Wardrobe, skylines, and even what people are holding, change cut for cut, and the editor, Bookwalter, seems to pray that nobody notices. Sorry, JR, I did and I assure you, others will.

In the opening minutes of "Zombie Cop" a hostage situation dissolves into a bloody and violent shoot-out. In the aftermath, two men, a cop, Robert Gill (Michael Kemper), and a serial child killer, a man nicknamed Dr. Death (James Black), lay dying in a pool of their own blood. Before slipping off this mortal coil, Death, who also happens to be a Voodoo High Priest, recites an ominous-sounding spell, something that Gill manages to overhear before he follows Death into the eternal blackness. The levity of this spell doesn't become clear until much later, when, on a cold breezy night, both Gill and Death rise from their graves, rotting skin and all. Gill discovers that he, and his adversary, are bound to walk the earth forever as non-living mobile entities, or rather, zombies.

Gill makes his way to a former colleague's house, looking for both comfort and help. He finds it… sort of. His colleague, a cop, Detective Stevens, played by Ken Jarosz (1993's "Midnight 2: Sex, Death and Videotape"), is at first reluctant to believe that his friend is actually a member of the walking dead, but after some deliberation, he can only accept things as they are -- crazy as they may be. Gill, in his decayed state, immediately sets out to stop Death, who is already devising a plan to make himself fully human. In order for Death’s plan to work, a small child must be sacrificed. Wrapped a guaze, to hide his rotting skin (what about the smell?), and decked in his old police uniform, and with shotgun, ‘Zombie Cop’ Gill stalks the streets in search of Dr. Death and his fellow partner in crime, Buddy Van De Car (Bill Morrison). He also takes time out to halt an armed robbery in progress. Look for writer Walsh in a cameo as a store clerk.

The film, which plays out like a campy crime drama, completely falls apart in its final moments when it becomes abundantly clear that the filmmakers had no idea how to end the piece. The resolution, if you can call it that, seems intended to set up a sequel -- a sequel that we all hope never comes. On the other hand, where the film truly succeeds is in some of its performances, especially by actor James Black, who has since gone on to appear in numerous big-budget mainstream films like "Soldier" and "Out Of Sight". His performance here, although exaggerated and overly campy at times, really comes together in the second half when his plan to murder a child begins to materialize. Michael Kemper, who plays the ‘zombie cop’ of the title, offers an earnest, even sometimes all-too-serious performance that too often drifts into subdued iciness, as if he's attempting to channel Clint Eastwood's 'Dirty Harry' character. Sadly, the reception is a little fuzzy and it doesn't really work. Sometime effects and make-up artist, Bill Morrison (1996's "Feeders"), plays Buddy Van De Car, the comic relief of the picture. Occasionally, he's funny but, sadly, it often comes at the wrong times like when he‘s trying to abduct a child from a schoolyard. Not funny! On the other hand, his scenes with James L. Edwards (1992's "Galaxy of the Dinosaurs"), who also played his partner, Sculley, in "Robot Ninja", another early Tempe film, are quite enjoyable.

The self-effacing, politically incorrect to the point of groan-inducing, script by Matthew Jason Walsh (2001's "Brotherhood 2: Young Warlocks"), never takes itself too seriously, and is witty enough and silly enough to forgive some of the inconsistencies in plot and logic -- but not all. Walsh and J.R. Bookwalter (2002's "Killjoy 2: Deliverance from Evil") seemed to be having a good time with this production and it shows. Had only the film been better, then we could probably all share in their fun. In 2001, well known micro-budget director and editor, Danny Draven (2002's "Groom Lake"), was commissioned by Tempe Video to re-edit the film for later inclusion as part of Tempe Bad Movie Police line. Fans of campy shot-on-video movies will probably enjoy this but it is definitely not for everyone.

Special note: I acquired my original VHS copy of "Zombie Cop" from Scott Spiegel, who has since gone on to write, direct and produce numerous films including "Intruder" and "From Dusk Till Dawn 2: Texas Blood Money". The VHS copy was nearly unwatchable, but I'm grateful that he sent it along. Thankfully, I've recently acquired a pristine DVD copy.

For more information on the film go to the imdb.com.