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Maniac
- Letterboxed Edition
review by Terry Wickham
Back when VHS first came out, Maniac was one of the first videotapes I rented. This DVD release blows away the image quality of the tape, not to mention all the extras you get along with the movie; audio commentary featuring Director William Lustig, Special Make-up Effects Artist Tom Savini, Editor Lorenzo Marinelli and Luke Walter who was Joe Spinell's assistant, there's also trailers, deleted scenes and even promotional footage for the never produced sequel Maniac II: Mister Robbie. Maniac for those of you, who don't know, is the story of a lonely man whose mother was a prostitute. He has grown up resenting what his mother did with men and now that he's able, he gets rid of women working the streets of New York City. He doesn't just kill these girls; he gruesomely murders them and then scalps each one of them. He uses the women's hair on mannequins he keeps at home (they don't call the movie Maniac for nothing). This film was made when Special Make-up Effects artist Tom Savini was at his peak. I haven't seen much recent CGI footage that can match Savini's raw visceral impact. The scene with Savini as an actor, getting his head blown off is as explosive as gore scenes get. It's shockingly and amazingly real looking, captured in detail by Director William Lustig's multiple camera angles and slow motion photography. The ending is also noteworthy as Lustig and Savini let you have it, the Maniac (Joe Spinell) pays for all his sins at the hands of the mannequins. Or does he? Over the years, like the bodies that are mutilated in the film, I've seen Maniac torn to shreds critically. Most of the criticism has been aimed at the films limited storyline and microscope like attention to the violence. Most critics have mentioned that the onscreen killing is unmotivated. I will agree that most of the characters are not developed and that the story is pretty limited. But I do believe that the Maniac (Joe Spinell) is properly handled, as he is after all, a psychotic killer and no amount of development could ever make us understand why he brutally slays people. Though William Lustig is not the most talented filmmaker out there, I do believe he had good intentions. There are many moments you can see the influence of Tobe Hooper's Texas Chainsaw Massacre and the European greats like Dario Argento and Mario Bava. He has some nice camera shots and the film has that beautiful realistic color tone so prevalent back in the 70's. It might be just that it was shot in Super 16mm, like Chainsaw. For some reason the pristine, sharp film stock today can never seem to look as realistic as films like Maniac, Texas Chainsaw or Dead of the Dead (which of course was lensed in 35mm). One of the reasons Maniac is so powerful and effective is Jay Chattaway's standout score. Between the childlike sad theme of the Maniac, to the underbelly of terror, Chattaway's use of keyboard, percussion and fretless bass will get to you. His music is scary, disturbing and unforgettable. I wish they'd re-release the score on CD
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