Maniac (1980)
Review by the Fiend of Grue
Few movies can accurately capture the sensation and feeling that what you are seeing is real and whatever the subject matter of the film is, is how it really happens. Often times it doesn’t work and comes off as either hokey and/or campy or also possibly corny, but sometimes it does work and works well because, after all, there are always a few exceptions. Maniac would fall into that latter category.
Maniac tells the story of Frank Zito and his exploits around a dark and dirty New York City as he stalks and kills innocent women (among a few males too). Frank is a disturbed schizophrenic who had a childhood that was riddled with abuse from his mother. When Frank is alone in his tiny apartment is when the thoughts of that abuse rise to the surface causing him to go into an uncontrollable, maniacal rage. We watch as he stalks from a distance, observing his prey. Then swiftly and without mercy he brutally kills to satiate and calm his twisted mind. With each kill, Frank leaves a bloody and gruesome mess in his wake, only taking with him one thing from the crime scene…the scalp. After expiring the life of each victim, Frank proceeds to cut the scalp off, and then takes it to his apartment where he keeps an assortment of mannequins. On the head of each mannequin rests the disembodied scalp of a helpless gal that succumbed to the hands of a maniac.
While strolling through a park one day, Frank notices a woman photographer taking random pictures and he sees her take his. While she is away from her belongings, Frank gets her address off of her book bag and later shows up on her doorstep. Instead of the killer Frank that we have only seen up until this point, we see a clean cut, professional Frank that is interested more in this woman for companionship than for being the next trophy scalp for his numerous mannequins. The woman is nice and equally interested in Frank. At this point you can tell that Frank really wants to change himself around, but his propensity for murder cannot be repressed and his blood lust continues on, ending in a crescendo of complete madness …
Maniac is a movie that horror fans either love or hate. While some think the movie is too slow and doesn’t contain enough of a plot, I personally side with those that hold this movie in high regard and call it a classic. This movie captures the sickness, the dementia, the dark atmosphere that an image of a serial killer profile should have. Next to Henry: Portrait Of A Serial Killer, this is probably the best serial killer movie that’s been made. Not only does Joe Spinell play the part of Frank Zito so well and believable, giving the performance of his career, but this was also shot at a time when New York city was filled with scum and it is captured in all of it’s filthy, dingy glory. The city was rife with crime and apparently one of the scenes of the movie was shot a block away from where a murder had happened the night before and the killer was still on the loose.
The scene in the movie where Frank is chasing a nurse is probably the most memorable scene of the film and is it a pure cinematic achievement of terror. A nurse leaves work and is helplessly pursed by Frank into a deserted subway. She frantically and unsuccessfully attempts to get onto a train that is pulling away, instead having to retreat to the woman’s restroom for safety. Frank eventually gets her of course, but the tension, camerawork and atmosphere in this scene is remarkable. The effects of the film was done by the legend himself…Tom Savini, showing once again why so many call him the best ever. There is a scene in this movie where Tom Savini himself gets his head blown completely off that still stands up to any effect done today.
The new Blue Underground DVD has an amazing transfer of the film and in typical Blue Underground fashion, the movie was done justice on the extras. There is a fantastic 51 minute documentary on Joe Spinell, telling the story of his whole life. Through pictures, interviews with friends, people he worked with, and old film stock, we are shown the intriguing and unique personality that was Joe Spinell.
Like I said before, this movie is a love/hate type of movie with no real middle ground to tread. If you enjoy slashers, serial killer films, TOM SAVINI EFFECTS…then check it out. If you’ve NEVER seen it, check it out because everyone should see this movie at least once.
Popularity: 4% [?]
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