Maniac (4K Restoration)

Perhaps the most brutal slasher movie at the time of its release (in 1980), this was also the most exploratory portrait of a killer to date as well (perhaps in honor of Psycho’s Norman Bates). Very gory, uncomfortable, depraved and ambitious.Frank (Joe Spinell; Starcrash, The Last Horror Film) isn’t like most of our 1974-1980 era slashers. We see his face from the beginning, we know exactly who he is, we see some of his personal struggles, and we focus on him and not his victims. Frank suffers night terrors, his body is littered with scars from abuse, and he sleeps with mannequins donning the bloody scalps of his victims. Yup, he’s a troubled guy. And he actually seems even more distressed after killing.With Tom Savini (From Dusk till Dawn, Dawn of the Dead, Machete Kills) involved, you know you’re in for a bloody treat. Whether slitting a throat, garroting with razorwire, or scalpeling one’s forehead before slowly peeling off her scalp, great care is taken for the audience to see everything happening on-screen.With three kills in just the first 20 minutes, it’s ambitiously gory for its time, with a lot of bloody chunks to be enjoyed. We even see a crazy gunshot death scene result in an exploding head (really, it’s like a small animal was microwaved).But readily more disturbing than the death scenes is Frank’s own mind; how he talks to himself, how he talks to his mannequin companions, and what he sees in his victims. He’s so deeply disturbed he makes Norman Bates look like he has himself together. And like Norman Bates, Frank’s mom issues run deep!This disturbing film may represent the most thorough psychological portrait of a serial killer at the time. But despite knowing our killer so well, we really don’t know much about his history or why he kills… or why he expresses a special interest in Anna (Caroline Munro; Demons 6, Don’t Open Till Christmas, Starcrash).The decapitation at the end capped off an incredibly brutal finale and comeuppance for our killer. We see his head get straight up pulled from his body by his victims and it’s an awesomely bloody mess. Very impressive work from young director William Lustig (Maniac Cop 1-3, Uncle Sam)—and now I feel like I need to see Maniac Cop (1988), which I’ve essentially been procrastinating for 20 years.

I like 16:9 and will watch just about anything in this format.I like 5.1 but this movie is in simple stereo.I will probably not watch another movie that is described as horror.I don't particularly appreciate all the dramatic screaming.

I couldn't hardly watch 20 minutes of this awful, disturbing movie before having to stop watching it, after the one particular scene that led up to the psychopathic serial killer, strangling that girl who he was briefly with in the hotel room where he strangled her to death literally and his eyes turned purely and completely black and he scalped her head and that was it for me and all that I could handle. I don't recommend this one to anyone, as far as my feedback goes and is concerned.

The shotgun blast scene with Tom Savini is legendary. Filled with odd and guilty pleasures for horror and exploitation lovers alike! I highly recommend this film for all lovers of the genre!

character study, slasher, psychological thriller, slow burn.Quite the grim tale of one man's attempt to face his demons by scalping women & placing it on mannequins he collects in his tiny psycho-art apartment.Maniac forces us to feel a variety of feelings for the protagonist while keeping the tension tight through the whole film.Frank, were you hurt? Could you not deal? If you got help would it have helped?Frank, I'm sorry for your suffocating exitenstial dread, for your inability to control such strange lusts. You're hurting people Frank, you're a danger.They should put seroquel in the tap water.loved the art in the apartment. great job to the artists behind it!

How is there only one review on this movie? This is an early 80's horror masterpiece! The gritty NYC setting is as much a character as Frank Zito. Fantastic score with plenty of synthesized tension, amazing cinematography for an obviously low budget production and above all a true sense of story.This is not just a no brainer slasher. There are obvious elements of classic Italian Giallo and a solid attempt at developing a character backstory. Sure it's simplistic, but the filmmakers clearly had an artistic as well as horrific vision and it shows. Watch for the details especially in scenes shot in Frank's apartment. They are amazing. Some obvious continuity errors and such as to be expected in a low budget horror. No booms in the shot that I noticed so there is clearly some attention to production detail!!Highly recommended for fans of late 70s and early 80s horror, Giallo style slashers, and anyone who is into the gritty past of NYC depicted on film.

There's a scene where he takes someone out with a shotgun. I found this to be a gem for a slasher film.

not your typical slasher, as this movie is about the killer and his malfunction. thinking man's gore fest?not gonna critique the fx. as for the story, why did a middle aged guy start killing anyway? midlife crisis? and the scene with the cops; they just look around and go "nope". with "suspension of disbelief", it's maybe a 3.5 star movie. it's an 80s slasher, but kinda nice to see one focusing on the slasher, not the slashees.i am gonna give it a 5, cuz i dont think it deserves the 1 stars.

Worth the money.Delivery was on time .good shape.

Best slasher film ever with funny parts, great effects and wonderful villian.

super

I bought this copy as surplus. I already have a copy and 2 posters for Maniac. The idea is being Maniacless is not an option.

Die geschnittene Version dieses Films ist fast 8min kürzer als das Original und enthält zum Teil Auslassungen, die den Film nur schwer verständlich machen.