Product Details

• Format: Black & White, Color, Special Edition, Widescreen, NTSC
• Rated: Unrated
• Number of tapes: 1
• Studio: Starz / Anchor Bay
• VHS Release Date: September 10, 1997
• Run Time: 95 minutes
• Average Customer Review: 3.8 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (148 customer reviews)
• ASIN: 6304147074
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #147,179 in Movies & TV (See Top 100 in Movies & TV)

Editorial Reviews

Rue Morgue

"Some Of The Most Unprecedented, Graphically Detailed Depictions Of Violence Ever Put Before A Viewing Audience!"

HorrorDVDs.com

"One Of The Darkest Films Of All Time...Required Viewing For Any Horror Fan!"

See all Editorial Reviews

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

43 of 49 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars 4 Stars For Shocking Me, October 17, 2005

By 

Amy Lynn (Pennsylvania United States) - See all my reviews
(VINE VOICE)   

Amazon Verified Purchase

This review is from: Maniac (DVD)

Im not easily shocked or impressed with most horror films. Very few come to mind where it disturbs me or has a realistic feeling to it. This is definetly a film that will leave you thinking/- The main reason being the main character Frank Zito aka Joe Spinell plays the most realistic psycho/deranged person ive ever seen on film. The whole time i was thinking is this guy really insane? Either this guy is a genius actor or hes really nuts. Thats how real he is in this role. His presance will creep you out. Hes the biggest weirdo Ive ever seen on film. Hes worse than any monster, supernatural being, horror villain because hes so real and gritty. You dont want to think about it but you know that somewhere out there- people like this exist...

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.

16 of 16 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Just sick or a horror masterpiece?, November 14, 2001

By A Customer

This review is from: Maniac (DVD)

There are a number of people who find this film to be nothing more than a pointless and unnecessarily gruesome study in pathological and psychotic behaviour. I cannot agree with this opinion.

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.

13 of 13 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Great original storyline and special effects, November 9, 1999

By A Customer

This review is from: Maniac [VHS] (VHS Tape)

If unrelenting scenes of carnage, compliments of a psychotic sexual deviant is your cup of tea, then this movie is for you. The late Joe Spinell does an excellent job as our deeply disturbed title character, and the special FX are convincing even by today's standards. The shotgun scene left me speechless and is a MUST for all lovers of blood & gore. The ending was kind of strange, But unlike Jason or Freddie, there are actually people like this out there. This movie ranks in the top 5 most gorriest films I've seen. And as with all movies I recommend, Make sure you have the widescreen, unedited director's cut or you will miss some scenes.