Maniac (2012)

First, I can't understand why the original had to be remade. What made that film special wasn't the direction from William Lustig, or the gore effects from Tom Savini (although they did do a top notch job), but rather the world created by Joe Spinell. He is the true heart and soul of the original movie, and like anyone's heart and soul, it could never be duplicated. He had as much to do with the film's direction as Lustig did, and even poured much of his own money into it. Once you strip Spinell from the original, it just becomes a generic slasher film, so I ask again, why was this remade? Just make a similar movie with a different title and character names. Its not like the title "Maniac" has a lot of name value...

This movie is exactly what you expect from someone trying to duplicate something unique. A generic modernized version of a classic, with a few gimmicks thrown in so they could at least say they tried. The POV gimmick is just terrible. There's a reason why you don't see films being made this way (besides found-footage garbage). I guess it's an attempt to put us into Frank's head, but its truly unnecessary and doesn't work cinematically. It just comes off as a hokey and desperate attempt to stand-out. If you want to stand-out, do so by making a good movie, not by changing the camera angle. Good film-making requires much more than that.

Elijah Wood as Frank is a true testament to modern filmmaking- Use a pretty face on a killer to create irony OR to cash in on that actor's name value. Joe Spinell wasn't a household name when he did Maniac. Probably due to his appearance. He most definitely didn't have a pretty face. He was over-weight and someone you could imagine having trouble making friends in school. When I watch the original, I see an "ugly" man who struggles with social stress as a result. He makes that role completely believable. Elijah Wood does not. I can't even go into Wood's acting because it's absolutely minimal in this film, since nearly all of the movie is POV.

Another huge gripe for me was the CGI. The first death scene of the film is supposed to set the tone for the rest of the film. But what do we get? A hokey CGI death. Although the rest of the film does in fact have practical effects, they're CGI enhanced. Compare this scene with the opening death scene of the original Maniac and tell me which looks more realistic and less hokey.

Despite how much I disliked this movie, and how much of an atrocity it is compared to the original, I did find that music absolutely perfect for a Maniac-type film. It's just a real shame it was wasted on such trash.

Whats truly disturbing are all the good reviews here on IMDb. A few have even said this film was better than the original. Some have said they haven't seen the original so they couldn't compare. But I say DO compare, you may be shocked to realize how much better the original film is! Regardless, reviews do not make a movie good, so I'm hoping that as the film becomes more commercially available, the true face of this film will come through from the new reviews...or maybe not.

I was once at a screening of the original Maniac in NYC at the Sunshine Theater, of which William Lustig was attending to do a Q and A (he only lives blocks away from the theater). When asked about selling the rights for a remake, he stated, and I quote exactly: "I'm a whore for money." Another sad day in horror. Spinell would'v

Fmovies: Well I suppose its a hundred times better than the original ... Visually amazing ... Well acted by all ... And completely lacking in story and character ... There is no tension ... There is no atmosphere at all ... Its just there and SAYING NOTHING ... Vacuous ... Pointless ... Such a waste of such talent ... I suppose the director and cameraman were glad of the work and will certainly go on to better things ... Elijah Wood was well crazy to do this ... All credit to him ... He does what he can with it ... And the very thought of America Olivio as his mum is an outrageous idea :)) ... But the original was just the same ... Man kills girl, then another, then another etc, then dies at the end ... Quite frankly that isn't even a storyline ... It was bad all those years ago and we just watched it cos it was gory ... And thats what people will do with this ... Watch it once and then think what a wasted opportunity with that cast and crew ... If only there was a writer onboard

A psychopath on the loose. Or should I just say, a young boy with unresolved mother issues as a result of which others (girls, in particular) have to suffer?

Once he sets his eyes on the next target, nothing gets in the way. Very cunningly he establishes where the victims live and like a skilled craftsman carries out his hideous crimes, without remorse, second thoughts or hesitation.

Pivotal to the story is the appearance of an artist who has an acute interests in these plastic mannequins something that appeals greatly to the disturbed young man. Much as his instincts are ever present she somehow causes him to not be himself which is no little thing.

Great job has been done to bring intensity on the screen. We follow the troubled man, we agonise as he prepares his next murder, we feel sorrow when he indulges his animal instincts. Elijah wood is outstanding as the loner with a dark secret.

Another plus would have to be how the director gives it a very 80's look and feel without ever misleading us from the fact that it is a very modern day story.

Ultimately, although the direction by a Frenchman has its obvious advantages it remains a Hollywood movie. Hyperbole, gory scenes for the sake of it and a sense of stretched reality deprive this appealing story from further deserved points.

Maniac fmovies. MANIAC is an unwanted remake of the classic Joe Spinell video nasty of the same name from 1980, a film about a psychopath with a habit of scalping women. This new version follows exactly the same story (right down to the horrific nightmare climax) with 'improved' CGI gore effects over the original, although I have to say they're nowhere near the quality of the much-remembered Tom Savini prosthetic effects work.

In any case, this is an incredibly dark odyssey of murder and madness. I thought the material would have been watered down but this is just as grisly and depressing as the original. There's plenty of reason to watch, not least Elijah Wood who makes a good psychopath (as he did in SIN CITY); the whole film is shot through the killer's point of view which gives things an edgy, fresh feel. I loved the use of music and cinematography throughout, which reminded me of Refn's style in DRIVE, so it's a little bit of a shame that the story is so unrelentingly dark and miserable. I'd love to see an action or martial arts film done in this same POV style, though.

This movie is disturbing and disgusting but if you're watching it that's the point. It had a lot of points that made me feel -- for lack of a better word -- plain icky.

Elijah Wood does a great job dialing up the creep factor -- he is incredibly believable as an unadulterated psychopath. Maniac recently got banned in some locales because of its content, so that alone says that it does well in the horror genre.

It's unsettling, creepy, gross. It does what it sets out to do pretty well. The direction is good in this film as is the cinematography; for a remake it was exceptional!

This is a very gory and bloody film and unless you don't mind watching these types of films you won't like it.

I've not seen the original so I can't compare the two. Elijah Wood is an actor I like and he is excellent in this as the serial killing maniac. I found it hard to get into the film but this is one film that gradually improves as it goes along rather than fades away.

Along with the bloody horror there are a number of really tense scenes. It is the most unsettling film I've seen in a while. Maniac is well filmed and uses some very interesting filming techniques. I can't say I enjoyed watching it too much was a bit too sadistic for my taste. However for it's type this is a very good effort.