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1980 |
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Rated: R for graphic
violence, gore, torture, and rape. |
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Genre: Suspense Horror Thriller |
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Directed By: William Lustig |
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Running Time: 1:28 |
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Review
by:
Felix Vasquez Jr. |
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Review Date: 4/19/07 |
Special Features:
Audio Commentary with
Co-Producer/Director William Lustig, Special Make-Up Effects Artist
Tom Savini, Editor Lorenzo Marinelli, and Joe Spinell's Assistant
Luke Walter
Radio Interview with Co-Producer/Director William Lustig and Stars
Joe Spinell & Caroline Munro
The Joe Spinell Story
Theatrical Trailers
TV Spots
Radio Spots
Poster & Still Gallery
Gallery Of Outrage
Talent Bios |
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MANIAC
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“Maniac” is a different kind of slasher
film, one so incredibly vile and utterly wretched that you’ll be forced
to decide if you enjoyed this or not. I experienced the same conflict of
decision. Did I enjoy this or not? I’m not entirely sure, but a good
part of me says “yes.” At a time when the Son of Sam was still fresh on
everyone’s minds, “Maniac” is the closest depiction of a madman on the
streets that we’ll ever get again. We don’t just watch this madman
destroy folks, we learn about him, and we get into his mind. Director
William Lustig brings us in good and tight on his psyche, and it results
in some of the most grueling sequences in the film.
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Scalps are sliced off, women are
tortured and killed, and there’s a shocking ending. The
glimpses into the mind of this utter psychopath are
shocking, and even in my time, I still found it to be a
pretty disturbing piece of slasher cinema.
He stalks women relentlessly, and takes
pride in toppling them with his strength, not to mention he
loves making them pay for their resistance through utterly
brutal murders and torture. |
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He scalps a woman, and he impales
another, and then goes home to his mannequins which are basically
his ideal mates, looking out at him with horrible judgmental eyes.
Lustig’s film paints the city as an almost desolate wasteland in
which this person roams free, and once we watch him converse among
his plastic mates, we learn what makes him tick and sets him off on
helpless women. The climax is not one that will be easily forgotten,
and will leave audiences debating for a very long time, but “Maniac”
sets in its viewer, a morbid depiction of murder and revenge.
I couldn’t quite put my finger on it, at
first. Why didn’t I flip for “Maniac”? Well, simply because there’s no
story. In the entire running time of “Maniac” there’s simply no story to
speak of. It’s merely a string of sequences in which our main character
stalks, chases, and murders women relentlessly and then staggers home to
talk with his mannequins. And the balance in the horror film of foil
against monster, there simply isn’t any. It’s really almost nothing but
our monster running around at night putting the knife to poor women in
distress, and his endless chatter with his mannequins. And he seems to
be building his own mate, which Lucky McKee’s “May” borrowed heavily
from. An actual arc, rather than pointless and endless sequences would
have created a better sense of a cohesive story for “Maniac” and a
better sense of coherency in the end that would have created a better
film.
It’s far from the perfect slasher thriller
that I would have wanted. Lustig’s cult classic presents many flaws from
an anemic story and repetition aplenty, but on the flip side, it’s a
surefire memorable horror film with a horrifying glimpse into the mind
of a merciless killer.
- The song
"Maniac," played during "Flashdance" was originally written as a
theme song for this film, but it was rejected. The lyrics were toned
down and used as a theme song for "Flashdance," instead.
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