Featured Audience Ratings

• Jeff "

  
  The remake of the 1980 Exploitation slasher classic is a pretty good little flick that is riveting and thrilling. This film, like the original before it, doesn't shy away from the graphic kills, which may appeal to genre fans looking for something grotesque to watch. Elijah Wood… More
  The remake of the 1980 Exploitation slasher classic is a pretty good little flick that is riveting and thrilling. This film, like the original before it, doesn't shy away from the graphic kills, which may appeal to genre fans looking for something grotesque to watch. Elijah Wood steps into the role of Frank Zito, and he is quite good in his performance. I felt that he was able to deliver a performance that matched that of Joe Spinell, but managed to do something quite different as well. The film is one of the better remakes that have come out in recent times, and at times, remakes are quite good, and Maniac proves that. This is a disturbing horror yarn that will certainly leave its mark. Wood gives a bone chilling performance, on e that does stand out, and it makes it one of the strongest aspects of the film. There is really nothing new added to the formula, as this one covers similar ground than the original. This is truly one of the most depraved and deranged films in the genre and Elijah Wood really convinces you that he is crazy and disturb. This is a stunning remake, and one that doesn't tarnish the legacy of the original. The performances are good as well, considering that this is a picture that is pretty basic in its story. Genre fans will most likely love this one, and you can appreciate the fact that, it is in many ways, a much darker and atmospheric film than the original. Director Franck Khalfoun gets into the mind of a killer, and it is a terrifying and shocking journey from start to finish. The movie works well enough to keep you hooked from the first frame onwards, and even if you don't like it, it will definitely have an impact on you. As a fan of the William Lustig's original, I was pleasantly surprised by how good this movie was. This remake is worth checking out if you love these types of horror flicks. Not a perfect remake, but better than some recent ones.

• Directors C

  
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• Veronique K

  
  peeping tom + the collector

• Carlos M

  
  This brilliant film is certainly not for everybody's stomach. It is a very brutal, tense and intensely disturbing experience that forces us to adopt the perspective of a maniac psycho killer - using an ingenious subjective camera to put us right there inside his deranged state of… More
  This brilliant film is certainly not for everybody's stomach. It is a very brutal, tense and intensely disturbing experience that forces us to adopt the perspective of a maniac psycho killer - using an ingenious subjective camera to put us right there inside his deranged state of mind.

• Caesar M

  
  Maniac is about the owner of a mannequin shop developing a dangerous obsession with a young artist. The plot sounds unusual and remains that way. We're constantly in the head of our "Maniac" (not being me) seeing things from his perspectives at all times. A good thing… More
  Maniac is about the owner of a mannequin shop developing a dangerous obsession with a young artist. The plot sounds unusual and remains that way. We're constantly in the head of our "Maniac" (not being me) seeing things from his perspectives at all times. A good thing for the plot since expanding on the vague character development early makes us keen to follow. It has a nice contrast to the killer coming off as charming, pathetic, and distasteful. A more thought provoking take for how we should feel for the central character we follow unlike the usual slasher film killer. Though it's very clear when we meet new characters to tell who's just going to end up on the body count. It works as a horror and character study which unlike many recent horror flicks can't even juggle being one thing. Entirely told in POV photography is unconventional in cinema in general. This POV perspectives works and fails in some respects. It works since we see from up close the gruesome killings made all the harder to stomach thanks to some fantastic particle effects. Giving us a dynamic look on how our central character does things mentally and physically. The performances are visible from the supporting cast who sell their part including the obvious victims. The negative being it's entirely in POV. We only Elijah Wood when any glass reflective object is around therefore making it difficult to take Wood serious as an actor. As a viewer we vocally hear how he feels but never see. It adds to the mystery of the character, but takes away the opportunity to see Wood in an unprecedented role. Then is the case we do see Wood driving, going to a store, stalking, running, and mundane activity. Immersible no less though it could also be seen as filler to expand the runtime to be more than an hour. Maniac in the end is an unconventional slasher film that is smart and gruesome. While the whole first person perspective doesn't always work it gives the film a unique look of its own. Visually striking and being to see everything unfolding as the character does makes an authentic journey in the mind of killer.

• The Movie W

  
  Frank (Wood) has some serious Mommy issues, having been subjected, as a child, to the sight of his prostitute mother (Olivo) plying her trade in front of his impressionable young eyes. Now, as an adult, he's taken over the family business, restoring mannequins. In the evenings… More
  Frank (Wood) has some serious Mommy issues, having been subjected, as a child, to the sight of his prostitute mother (Olivo) plying her trade in front of his impressionable young eyes. Now, as an adult, he's taken over the family business, restoring mannequins. In the evenings however, he become L.A's most notorious serial killer, stalking women and murdering them for their scalps. Upon returning home, he attaches these newly acquired hairpieces to the mannequins in his bedroom, which he imagines are real live women who taunt him. When a kooky French photographer (Arnezeder) shows an interest in his mannequin restoring skills, he falls for her but finds his murderous impulses returning. William Lustig's 1980 original is one of the more respected of the countless eighties slashers. When it was announced that Wood was to play the role so well performed by Joe Spinell in the original, much mocking laughter was heard from the slasher faithful. Casting someone like Wood makes perfect sense however. The biggest issue of the original is that Spinell is so downright sleazy and creepy looking that it's inconceivable that someone like Caroline Munro would have gone within twenty feet of him, let alone befriend the schlub. Because Wood looks non-threatening, the relationship, here with French actress Arnezeder, is a lot easier to swallow. This relationship turns out to be the remake's greatest strength, mainly due to Arnezeder's performance. She's appeared a lot in thankless roles but, on the strength of her turn here, I suspect we'll be seeing big things from her. Khalfoun makes the choice to shoot his remake almost entirely from the POV of Frank, ala Robert Montgomery's 'Lady in the Lake', pulling back to reveal Wood in key moments, usually murder scenes. This becomes tiresome after a while, chiefly because the camera behaves at times in a manner that the human eye can't (zooms and cuts, for example). The cinematography of Maxime Alexandre and the synth score from 'Rob' capture the feel and mood of eighties low budget horror but there is one key element missing which made the original so creepy: eighties New York. Back in the late seventies and early eighties, the city was the personification of urban hell and movies shot during this period were automatically lent an extra air of menace. Nowadays the Big Apple resembles a kid's theme park so Khalfoun relocates the action to L.A and the same grim feeling just isn't there. In this case, New York's gain is the wannabe sleazy film-maker's loss.

• DA Z

  
  Maniac is a sweetly gruesome slasher flick mixed in with hallucinatory psychopathy and a side of nihilism. These qualities all contribute to its grueling tension and surrealness, to the point of feeling like you're suffering from schizophrenia. It's also a very stylishly… More
  Maniac is a sweetly gruesome slasher flick mixed in with hallucinatory psychopathy and a side of nihilism. These qualities all contribute to its grueling tension and surrealness, to the point of feeling like you're suffering from schizophrenia. It's also a very stylishly directed film, as seen through the eyes of the narrator via the optical perception of the camera. Bottom line: Maniac is a mind-boggling gorefest, and any horror fan would be a fool to miss it.

• Daniel P

  
  Wowsers. Maniac was scary, scuzzy, funny, gross and brilliant. Shown almost entirely through the eyes of Frank, the titular maniac, the only downside was that walking home made me feel a) creeped out and b) a bit like a serial killer. Brilliant/urghhh.

• Francisco G

  
  This is one of the rare remakes that actually manages to surpass the original, while paying tribute, bringing new things to the table and correcting what made the original confusing at times. Whilst the original was pretty aimless at times, specially during the middle section, this… More
  This is one of the rare remakes that actually manages to surpass the original, while paying tribute, bringing new things to the table and correcting what made the original confusing at times. Whilst the original was pretty aimless at times, specially during the middle section, this remake explores what the other kept more vague (in order to throw in some pointless deaths, which was what broke the pace), specially the troubled protagonist, it's insecure sexuality and mommy issues. It works wonders on keeping things interesting and creepy while it lasts, backed up by the very impressive use of POV perspective. It's unconfortable for all the right reasons and you definently feel in the Maniac's perspective. Elijah Wood seems to have a knack for portraying creepy serial killers and he's a winner here too. His lead female partner is not too bad either but could've been a bit less cliché. However, some silliness unsues at times, specially towards the end, which wasn't necessary at all. The whole sequence before you arrive at the true ending is just a bit over the top. Logic gaps here and there prevent this one to be a really good flick, but for a first time directorial debut, this guy shows balls, has all the technical skills required and manages to "humanize" the monster with smarts. Definently looking forward to the next one.

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