Previously posted on blog and written by B. Demeter
Maniac (2012) is a remake of the cult horror classic Maniac (1980). And despite changing the setting and profile of the killer- the movie is as horrifying as the original.
The original Maniac had Joe Spinell as the titular maniac and he was amazing. Overweight, greasy, and unkempt; Joe Spinell’s character was the very definition of late 1970s sleaze-ball New York City serial killer. With David “Son of Sam” Berkowitz in prison, Joe Spinell was the best not-an-actual-murder to play the role of a David Berkowitz type.
This version of Maniac stars Elijah Wood and takes place in present day Los Angeles.
While I must admit to putting this film on a very short leash, my faith was fully restored after the first kill, which happens right after the opening credits. It’s top fucking notch; quick, brutal, and sets the level for the rest of the movie.
Frank Zito (Wood) is a mentally disturbed mannequin restorer. His mother was a whore who openly engaged in raunchy sex with strange men. The film is light on specifics, but this was enough to push Frank over the edge and causes him to get stabby with women as a sexually repressed adult. In an attempt to regain some innocence and purity, he kills women, scalps them, then staples the scalp to a mannequin which he then talks to and sleeps with for a while until he decides to get a new woman/scalp. It’s really fucked up. There is a reason why the movie isn’t titled “Well adjusted guy who overcame childhood trauma through therapy”.
A lot of this movie is filmed from the killer’s POV. It can come across as a bit of a gimmick but it is probably the best way for the movie to be filmed. When he is stalking, running down, and murdering his victims- you see exactly what he sees. It takes up your whole vision and you can’t look away. It is unflinching and over the top violence on a level that I don’t know if I have ever seen before. And honestly, nothing would ever make me seriously consider Elijah “North” Wood as physically imposing so making the view POV and taking him out of the equation only enhanced the experience.
This movie is good. Really good, actually. The kills are gut wrenching. The story is directly lifted from the original; which should satisfy the cult film’s fans. Even the soundtrack is incredible; a sort of modernized 70s grind-house funk groove. As scary as this may sound, this movie is almost like a serial killer simulator.
This film isn’t for everyone. It’s definitely not for the casual horror fan that is in it for the LOLs. I’d suggest giving it a try just because I liked it and want more people experience it- but don’t blame me if you can’t stand the heat. You’ll know if you can hang with this movie after that first kill six and a half minutes in.
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