15 Mindless Action Films You Must See Before You Die

You know the writers of The Simpsons have seen Bulletproof because both feature blond, barrel-chested cops named McBain who disrespect authority and whose exploits cause an inordinate amount of collateral damage. But whereas the animated figure voiced by Harry Shearer loves awful puns, Gary Busey’s character has a single catchphrase: he calls his nemeses “Butthorn”.

This term is first employed in the opening scenes, when Danny Trejo’s gangsters, interrupted during a deal, wonder what that noise coming from the rafters could be. “Your worst nightmare, Butthorn!” Busey says, leaping into action and dispatching them one by one. This is an important scene in terms of character because it reveals the origin of Frank ‘ Bulletproof’ McBain’s soubriquet.

Shot by one of Trejo’s goons, Busey pulls out the slug himself and places it in a mason jar with the other 38 bullets his body has taken before returning home to find a woman in his bathtub who tells him: “You might be bulletproof, but you’re not love proof.” Serpico, this ain’t.