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I love slasher films. They take us where we can't go, or rather, where we wouldn't dare to go. So many titles become lost in the endless sea of sub-par B-movies that it's hard to swim through this sea and actually find one that surprises me anymore. Maniac is one of, if not the greatest slasher of all time.
It's rare that you get to see inside you're average movie killer's head. Maniac breaks rules that hadn't even been established by the time it was made(1980). The blood and gore look great, and our killer, as viscous as he is, makes it really hard not to sympathize with him. He's original also in the sense that he needs no mask, nor is he horribly disfigured. He's as close to a real homicidal maniac as could be, leaving you feeling utterly disturbed by his tendencies.
So the film is a slasher about the slasher, not the victims. No mystery and little focus on the killer's prey. Just good, violent, bloody, disturbing, all-American fun.
The movie was blacklisted and never submitted to the MPAA, therefore it never even received a rating. This is a genuine reflection of a genuine horror classic. It's my opinion that no hardcore horror fan should go another day without seeing this movie, which featured Tom Savini on one of his first FX endeavors, and quite possibly one of his most famous. I don't want to spoil it for you, I'll just say that a 12-gauge shotgun blast at point-blank range never looked so good. Give this flick a chance, you won't regret it.
Maniac was a movie better than most. It was really good to have a slasher film not in the backwoods somewhere or a small town in middle america. The gore was terrific and the shotgun kill was amazing. For being made in the 80's this movie impressed me(I love 80's horror and this just added to it.) I think if you like slasher films this is a must have for your collection.
after finaly get'n my hands on this in the u.k i have to say i was impressed,it's right up there with other 80s horror classics, the prowler,friday the 13 witch all contained the dark vision off tom savini,Dam that guy i true'ly belive pushed hard back then for these crazey ass moments in these pictures.o.k so some plot holes in maniac,but always stay'n true too what it is,an that is deep, dark and moody. Know time what so ever for jokes,its hardcore slasherness at it's very best
This movie was pretty good! It was a great idea for a slasher flick. But I was disappointed because, with everything I read about this movie, I expected a lot more. I thought it was going to be gory as hell and have awesome killings..but there was only 1 gory kill in this movie and it was the shotgun part..although the shotgun kill was one of the best kills I have ever seen in a movie! So, overall, pretty much everything about the movie was great, but it just needed better kills.
Love this slasher flick. This movie took a slasher flick and pushed what haven't been done before in a slasher film during that time. Joe Spinell was bashed quite abit about his acting in this movie but I thought he played a great maniac,I can't see anybody else who could of done better.
If you want a f***ed up weird slasher movie that is gory as f***, then this movie is right for your. But it is not all jsut about the gore, which is done by Tom Savini and is very well dont, it is also how you see Joe Spinell really go crazy. You get into the head of Joe's character and it is almost disturbing to watch. Joe's acting in this is very very good, which was a big surprise to me because this is a B movie slasher from the eighties lol, but he does/pulls off the performance better than most would have. Check out this movie if your a fan of TomSavini gore, or just balls out gore in general, I give it an 8/10!
joe spinell is the best part of this pretty decent cerial killer movie,he truely does make you see that he is a severly troubled man,not to mention gore from tom savini!good flick
Very gritty and nihilistic. One of VERY few movies that's left me feeling depressed and needing a shower afterward... Which is exactly why I like it so much! Especially in the age of rock soundtracks and flashy quick-cuts, you just don't find movies with this kind of pacing and grim atmosphere anymore.
Posted By: Slaser Maniac at 8:52pm, January 14, 2009
One of the best Slasher Flicks. When I first saw the preview to this movie I just had to see it. the movie is filled with great kills like: a head blown off, a girl getting her scalp cut off and stabbed in the back.
As a child, Momma was a mean hooker who used to lock him in the closet while she turned tricks. She loved those men and their money more than she ever did her own son. How's a sweet & innocent child to recover?
Kill em all!! That's how!!
As an adult, Frank Zito now wanders the lonely streets of New York nightly, looking out for his next victim. Whether it' a hooker, a cheating spouse, a snooty model, or just someone out and about in the late night hour, Frank's M.O. is always the same : Kill em, Scalp em, take their head of hair home, and nail it onto one of the several female mannequins around his scummy apartment.
Good boy Frank!
Now Frankie doesn't have to be lonely anymore. He has a department store full of victims around his apartment, all to himself! They will never leave, and will be kept always by Frank.
This guy has a lot of heart, and it shows.
Maniac isn't the fastest paced movie, but it has some of the most awesome graphic violence that 80's horror produced (thank you Tom Savini!). The late Joe Spinell (who also co-wrote) is simply irresistible as Frank Zito. He's terrifying, childish, maniacal, and downright lovable as the crazed New York madman.
Maniac is gritty, dark, horrifying, and directed in many parts as a "documentary" film, allowing the viewer to see things through Franks eyes. You feel like your right along for the ride with this fine gent!
It's a beauty of a horror film, one not to be forgotten after the credits roll.
This movie was awesome. Once again great gore effects by Tom Savini who is a god by the way, and just the whole atmosphere of the movie was dark and fucked up. Great movie.
as a child I saw this movie and I was pretty scared :D they should make a remake of this movie, but then again,they better keep there hands of it, because the most remakes are total bullcrap. Maniac is a true classic movie.
This is a combination of one of the greatest slasher and one of the creepiest and realistic serial killer movies ever made. I'm not sure why the BD guys gave it only 2 stars. It is a movie that is impossible not to be affected by; which is because it is very effective at what it does - it creeps you out, grosses you out, and makes you dread what the maniac will do next. Not a great date movie but............
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