RoboCop (1987) Starring Peter Weller, Nancy Allen & Kurtwood Smith Directed by Paul Verhoeven Written by Edward Neumeier & Michael Miner

Paul Verhoeven certainly sees his film as more than a brainless journey into ultra-violence. He compares lead characters Murphy’s metamorphosis from easygoing cop to Cybernetic organism with Christ and His subsequent resurrection. Just a tad pretentious perhaps, and atypical of the notoriously nutty directors viewpoint, yet also strangely apparent in parts. Verhoeven, at first wary of undertaking a project with the ham fisted title of 'Robocop', decided to come on board, as he loved the fact that the hero is brutally and unconventionally slaughtered in the first half hour of the film.

It also has to be noted that it was his visual flair which contributed to adding a certain sensitivity and poignancy, amidst the blood and brutality of the film. Contrasting the uber violence, is the story of one man’s fight against the corrupt system, notably the yuppie lifestyle the 80's is so remembered for. On first introductions, Murphy is your average easygoing family man, working as a cop. It is during a chaseout of a notorious gang, plaguing the city he so seeks to serve, that he meets his brutal demise and eventually rebirth as Robocop. Part man, part machine, he is programmed by bigwigs controlling the city to protect, but on their terms.

His death scene is utterly gratutious, limbs are shot off and sent flying, blood spurts, he is literally torn apart before the viewers eyes. Paul Verhoeven grabs his audience by the balls and he ain’t letting go!

We then go on to witnesses Murphy’s unwitting transformation into a cyborg, plucked from near death and used as a test subject by those evil men at the top. Much of it is shot from his viewpoint, one of many unique techniques used by Verhoeven, giving the movie a stylish, memorable edge. However, his human element prevails and alongside being the public’s new superhero, he struggles with nightmarish flashbacks and questions who he really is. His ex-partner at the precinct , Lois (most noted previously for her role as the bouffant bitch in the prom night movie gone wrong 'Carrie') assists him in exacting revenge on his killers and discovering his past identity, much to his 'creators' displeasure. There is the slightest hint of romance between the two, but it is wisely merely suggested rather than focused on.

Along the way we are treated to plenty more carnage and gut-wrenching gore (the baddie in the finale who gets an acid bath, skin sliding off face and all, any one?!) as well as some effects, which granted look a little dated now, are still pretty impressive when you consider that they were done the old skool way: good old animatronics (watch the “Making of doco” on the trilogy box set and you'll see how painstaking this really was to do). The design of Robocop and ED209 are still iconic today. Peter Weller, selected for the main role due to his small frame, was perfect for the Robocop suit and endured hours in makeup to get the suit on each day. He described it all as 'a bit of a nightmare', losing pounds in sweat each day and perfecting his robo movements with the aid of a professional mime. The role required much more work than Terminator, which it was compared to, upon its release. He went onto reprise the role in the sequel (minus Verhoeven), but wisely turned down featuring in the third installment. By this point the film, which was so expected to be received poorly, had become a bit of a cash cow and was, like so often happens in Hollywood, bled dry.

So overall, we have a lasting legacy in sci-fi with Robocop, a film which has inspired, horrified and still manages to shock today. Paul Verhoeven raised the bar in sci-fi horror and achieved a mainstream success with what is in many ways an indie film, in its innovation and bloodletting.