“Things change, people die. But in a painting or a picture, they’re yours forever.” – Frank Zito, maniac
A young couple (the boyfriend being none other than Tom Savini) are in a car. They think they see someone lurking outside their window. They turn the headlights on–revealing a figure in the shadows. It’s a man. He’s wearing a military jacket and holding a shotgun in his hands. He rushes the car, leaps onto the hood, gets down on one knee, hoists the shotgun into shooting position and… well, you really need to see what happens next in order to believe it.
Maniac was released in 1980. It was filmed in 16mm on a non-existant budget and directed by William Lustig (Maniac Cop, Vigilante). Rarely has a movie unnerved me the way Maniac has–they just don’t make movies this unflinchingly violent anymore.
The story is simple: Frank Zito, played by Joe Spinell (Rocky, the Godfather), has mother issues. Due to abuse he suffered as a child, Frank feels the need to murder and scalp any woman he sees enjoying herself.
Although the movie looks great, the lack of any in-depth story, unfortunately, leaves the first 30 min. wallowing in the same stalk-and-kill formula. But this isn’t entirely bad. In fact, some of these stalk-and-kills are the most effective I’ve ever seen (especially the one involving the nurse on the subway).
Maniac is truly unnerving. This is due, in large part, to Joe Spinell’s brilliant job of portraying Zito as a man equally hurting and looking to hurt. Also, Maniac makes great use of its being set in late 70’s, early 80’s New York City. Along with Abel Ferrara’s Driller Killer, Maniac is the single best portrayal I’ve seen of NYC when it seemed on the brink of descending into total chaos.
Although far from perfect, Maniac should be required viewing for any slasher and gore fans. The aforementioned Tom Savini did all the makeup and some of the killings (especially the scalpings) will test strength of even the most jaded horror fans. Special thanks must be given for distribution company Blue Underground for putting out yet another hard-to-find horror classic.
Good luck with this one. Don’t watch it alone.
Sidenote: Keep a running tally of all the Psycho and Taxi Driver references. Here is a movie that’s comfortable with wearing its influences on its (jacket) sleeve.
