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Special Features
- Audio Commentary #1 with Co-Producer/Director William Lustig and Co-Producer Andrew W. Garroni
- Audio Commentary #2 with Co-Producer/Director William Lustig, Special Make-Up Effects Artist Tom Savini, Editor Lorenzo Marinelli, and Joe Spinell's Assistant Luke Walter
- Anna and the Killer - Interview with Star Caroline Munro
- The Death Dealer - Interview with Special Make-Up Effects Artist Tom Savini
- Dark Notes - Interview with Composer Jay Chattaway
- Maniac Men - Interview with Songwriters Michael Sembello and Dennis Matkosky
- Theatrical Trailers
- TV Spots
- Radio Spots
- Mr. Robbie: Maniac 2 Promo Reel
- The Joe Spinell Story
- Maniac Publicity
- Maniac Controversy
Editorial Reviews
Review
"A Grimy Snapshot Of Early `80s Manhattan And An Unapologetically Twisted Study In Pathological Murderousness!" -- Lessons of Darkness
"An Undiluted Expression Of Urban Horror... A Formidable New York Grunge Flick Through And Through!" -- Cinepassion
"Forget Tarantino & Rodriguez... This Is The REAL Grindhouse!" -- eFilmCritic.com
"One Of The Darkest Films Of All Time... Required Viewing For Any Horror Fan!" -- HorrorDVDs.com
"Some Of The Most Unprecedented, Graphically Detailed Depictions Of Violence Ever Put Before A Viewing Audience!" -- Rue Morgue
Product Description
Customer Reviews
The story focuses on frank the serial killer and his killings and insanity. He calmly stalks his pray through the streets of NYC. I dont know how he manages to fool some of the people in this film but he does. They treat him like a normal guy until he trys to kill them when they least expect it.
Some of the scenes are grusome, but they will keep you on the edge of your seat. You will be able to put yourself in both franks shoes and feel the victims terror as she is stalked and hides from Frank... Especially the subway bathroom scene. Thats an intense scene. Frank keeps on killing till the end when his own demons finally come back to haunt him.
Any horror fan should have this in their collection. I can see why it was banned in germany and england. They were probably scared of it, considering how realistic it was.
As for this film shocking me- it did somewhat- for the realism. and the acting did impress me.
Although a very tough experience, the viewing of this film reveals in some depth the tortured mind of a pathetic Vietnam veteran (also a victim of child abuse) who is driven by his inner demons to slaughter various women in NYC in a psychotic attempt to revive the spirit of his dead mother.
It is a profoundly disturbing film.
Joe Spinell gives a remarkable performance as the demented killer. His verbal ramblings are profoundly unnerving. (Not to mention the hideous murders.) He manages to demonstrate the de-personalized actions of an insane "maniac" all too convincingly.
The direction is very good as well. Some very fine camera work.
It is interesting to note the incorporation of some themes of Mario Bava's "giallo" thrillers in this film. For example, consider the "dollhouse" effect of the main protaganist's grotesque apartment and compare this to the secret "bridal room" in Bava's HATCHET FOR A HONEYMOON. (Lustig and Spinell apparently enjoyed watching "banned" foreign horror movies in the old "grindhouse" cinemas on 42nd.)
The print offered by the new ANCHOR BAY DVD is an improvement over that of the old ELITE version. The colours are sharper and the night exterior scenes (notably that concerning the gruesome murder of the Tom Savani character and his "date") are not as murky.
Some good extras as well.
As a horror film, MANIAC comes close to being a masterpiece.
Being that many movies have used this title I must explain that this one is not only the real deal but the most vile of the pack. It is a extremely creepy low budget gore flick with absoloutely no moral perspective, So much so that even its own makeup artist wanted to be removed from its credits. Tom Savini, who would later become famous for his award winning FX as well as acting and directing many later horror films, Brings to the table some of the most realistic FX in his career and is one of the many highlights in this classic horror film.
Like it is in many real life serial killer cases, we have the late Joe Spinnel, who potrays the serial killer Frank Zito, a loner with no social grace or personality. Frank is severely mentally disturbed as a result of the emotional and physical abuse he suffered as a child at the hands of his prostitute mother. The murder scenes in this movie are extremely cruel and graphic in nature so I must warn you that this film is defenitely not for everybody.
Most casual horror fans tend to wretch at this film and see it as nothing more than a seedy slasher flick that has a very anti-woman message, but in my opinion it is much more than that. It is a potrayal of one of society's worst monsters, monsters who often walk around our every day world going unnoticed.
So in conclusion, if you are a die-hard horror fan and love gruesome effects, then I highly suggest you purchase this dvd. Out of all the DVD's that Anchor Bay has released, this would have to be the cream of the crop, boasting a plethora of special features, and a heartfelt tribute to the late Joe Spinnel.
the price was hi so i didn't get it then.I ran into it here and the
price was better so i got it. Read more
rock and roll ;)
