Review of Maniac (1980) by Tom S — 14 Oct 2008

I was looking forward to seeing this much talked about and revered 1980 horror film. Partly because I love a dark, gritty slasher and partly because I love Tom Savini's work. Well, I finally got around to watching it and I feel a tad disappointed. This is because I went in with very high expectations and that always leads to disappointment. It wasn't as gory as many people led on and it did drag in places but other than that it was a good movie.

Joe Spinell is Frank Zito, a guy with mother issues and a serious problem. He likes to go out and violently kill and scalp women so he can decorate his mannequins. That is the plot in a nutshell and really, for a slasher that is all you need, a basis for setting up some gory murders. And when they happen, they are definitely bloody (of particular note is an awesome exploding head sequence). Tom Savini did a damn good job with this movie.

Joe Spinell's gritty and excellent performance is also worth praising. He does an extremely good job and carries the movie very well. The score is quite creepy and there are a few scenes that are actually quite scary and there is one scene (a stalking scene set in a subway) that is very well done and is one of the most intense scenes in all of the horror movies I have seen.

If you love gory, dirty, sleazy 80's movies or slashers this is not to be missed.