This Sylvester Stallone Action Flick Only Has 17% on RT – But Deserves So Much More

Cobra was criticized for its editing, gratuitous violence, and primitive script when it was released in 1986, but today, praise for the movie's action scenes and style has multiplied, with many calling it the quintessential 80s genre film.

Although Cobra has only a 17% score on Rotten Tomatoes, this action gem, considered a flop for decades, deserves a reappraisal – it's a true manifestation of style and genre fetishism.

What Is 'Cobra' About?

The Christmas holidays in Los Angeles begin with disturbing news: a wave of brutal murders is sweeping the city.

Members of the New World gang – a group that is part gangster and part religious fanatic – are breaking with the norms of civility and demonstrating that life and power belong to the strongest.

The police turn to Marion "Cobra" Cobretti, a ruthless lieutenant known for his brutal methods, to investigate. Cobra begins hunting the gang to protect Ingrid, the only surviving witness.

'Cobra' Is a Triumph of Form Over Content – And in This Case, It's a Compliment

Following the success of Rambo, producer George P. Cosmatos gained the trust of the studio. Inspired by the film's success, Stallone wrote a script, but Paramount rejected it because it was too harsh and humorless.

The Cannon Group gave the green light, and the Stallone-Cosmatos duo created a movie that 1980s critics called testosterone-fueled vulgarity. Today, however, Cobra's value lies elsewhere – it's a film about texture, not plot.

Cobra offers a gallery of stills: neon banners shimmering with crimson light, the glimmer of leather jackets and blades, sweaty, muscular bodies, and roads illuminated by the morning sun. Here, genre conventions are captured with an almost unhealthy tactility.

Today, 'Cobra' Definitely Deserves a Reevaluation

The archetype of the police officer who operates beyond the realm of good and evil has been a subject of debate since the days of Dirty Harry.

The number of serial killers peaked in the 1980s, and the idea of unscrupulous justice became increasingly prevalent in genre films. Cobra is one of two high-profile police movies of the decade featuring officers operating outside the bounds of the law.

Today, Nicolas Winding Refn favors Cobra – his visual style was influenced by the disastrous Stallone action film. The toothpick in the driver's mouth in Drive, as well as his character, didn't come out of nowhere.

Cobra is a wild movie with a special cinematic magic, its high-contrast aesthetic cannot be replicated by modern action flicks, which are too polished and afraid of roughness.

What Did Critics & Viewers Think of 'Cobra'?

• Cobra has 17% from critics and 44% from viewers on Rotten Tomatoes.

• On IMDb, the movie has a score of 5.8/10.

• On Letterboxd, Cobra scored 3.0/5.0.

Where to Watch 'Cobra'?

Cobra is available to buy or rent on Apple TV and Amazon Prime Video.