PopHorror Let's Get Scared
Anyone who reads my articles regularly knows how I feel about 80’s slashers. Maniac won me over a long time ago, in my childhood, even. Also, most of you also know, I started watching horror movies at way too young an age. It molded me into who I am today. Which is a tattooed gum-chewing hound for all those slashers. But what if it isn’t quite a slasher? What if it were mixed with a bit of comedy and horrifying realities?
If this attracts you, let’s get into the review.
Synopsis
A psychopathic man goes on a killing and mutilation spree in New York City. While the hunt is on, he just keeps piling bodies. Once Frank Zito (Joe Spinell) hears the commands, he follows. Ech time he takes another victim, he is bothered by what he did. As he closes in, the public does all they can to fight back.
The Rundown
Maniac is a close look at the lonely man who tends to fantasize about death. Frank also has an issue with letting that little voice. This raises awareness of mental health. I also live with a disorder called schizoaffective disorder. As morbid as it sounds, Frank Zito became a spokesperson for my life and my diagnosis. He spoke with absolute grief and anxiety. Only, he was a crazed killer. I haven’t gotten that far because I take care of my mental illness.
What got to me the most were Frank’s crying spells; I get them every once in a while, too. Frank is full of regret, and it shows. You can tell he is being controlled by an invisible voice. Sometimes we hear things that aren’t very nice or even commanding. Look at the nightstalker, David Berkowitz. Which is funny, because the murders occurred in New York City. I once thought the movie could be loosely based on Berkowitz, in my opinion, though the film is just imagination, it almost seems like a documentary on his violent spree.
Mainiac has one scene that sticks out above all. Though the girl in Hereditary lost her head, to see someone shot point-blank in the face beats it every time. If I were to have a favorite scene, it would have to be this very scene. Not only was it different, but it also involved one beautiful scene any gore hounds would love. Who walks away from the slow-motion shot to see the carnage that follows the gunshot closely, as you watch the poor victim’s face. That 5-second scene won me over forever. I have seen a lot of gore, and I have seen a lot of the practical effects. That scene still lives on as one of my favorites.
In The End
In the end, I have seen this film so much because it is in my regular rotation. The story was like Taxi Driver on speed. I would put Maniac in my top 10 for sure. They don’t make movies like this anymore. Even with the Terrifier series, they avoided what the mom looked like after the shot to the face. It was a bold move that worked perfectly. I can watch Maniac when I’m in a funk, and I can watch people die without having to close my eyes through certain scenes.
The film will always have my undying respect, from a faithful gorehound.
