Copkiller

For other uses, see Cop Killer (disambiguation).
Copkiller
VHS release cover under the alternative title Corrupt
Directed byRoberto Faenza
Screenplay byEnnio de Concini
Roberto Faenza
Hugh Fleetwood
Based onThe Order of Death
by Hugh Fleetwood
Produced byElda Ferri
Roberto Cicutto
StarringHarvey Keitel
John Lydon
Sylvia Sidney
Leonard Mann
Nicole Garcia
CinematographyGiuseppe Pinori
Edited byNino Baragli
Music byEnnio Morricone
Production
companies
Jean Vigo International
RAI
Aura Film
Distributed byNew Line Cinema
Release dates
  • 15 March 1983 (1983-03-15) (Italy)
  • 19 January 1984 (1984-01-19) (U.S.)
Running time
117 minutes
CountriesItaly
United States
LanguagesEnglish
Italian

Copkiller (Italian: Copkiller (L'assassino dei poliziotti)),[1][2] also released as Corrupt, Corrupt Lieutenant, and The Order of Death,[3] is a 1983 Italian crime thriller film directed by Roberto Faenza and starring Harvey Keitel and John Lydon, the lead singer for the bands Sex Pistols and Public Image Ltd. It is based on Hugh Fleetwood's 1977 novel The Order of Death, with a screenplay by Fleetwood, Faenza and Ennio de Concini. The music was composed by Ennio Morricone.[4] The plot follows a psychological cat-and-mouse game between a corrupt police officer (Keitel) and a disturbed young man (Lydon) against the backdrop of murders committed by a serial killer who is targeting police officers.

The film was shot on-location in New York City and at Cinecittà Studios in Rome between March and April, 1982. It is Lydon's only starring role in film to date.[5] Upon release, it received mixed-to-negative reviews from critics, and has since fallen into the public domain.[6] It has since undergone a reevaluation, and has become a cult classic due to the presence of Keitel and Lydon, while being acknowledged as a precursor to Abel Ferrara's celebrated and similarly-themed film Bad Lieutenant (1992).[6][7]

  1. ^ "Corrupt (1983) - Release Info". IMDb. 2015. Retrieved 26 January 2015.
  2. ^ "Copkiller poster". Todocoleccion.net. 2015. Retrieved 26 January 2015.
  3. ^ "Corrupt Lieutenant AKA Corrupt AKA Copkiller AKA The Order Of Death". Facebook. 2015. Retrieved 26 January 2015.
  4. ^ "Ennio Morricone - Copkiller - Original Soundtrack (Vinyl, LP, Album)". Discogs.com. 2015. Retrieved 26 January 2015.
  5. ^ "Reviews: Order of Death movie, Harvey Keitel, John Lydon". Fodderstompf. 2009. Retrieved 26 January 2015.
  6. ^ a b "Corrupt a.k.a Copkiller (1983)". Why Does It Exist?. 14 May 2011. Retrieved 26 January 2015.
  7. ^ Six Pack: John Lydon 01-31-2018, Rhino.com