Review of Maniac (2012) by Nathan M — 11 May 2014

Or the Remake of the 80s Film Mannequin... Right?

Creepy, campy, and fun, even if it is too self-indulgent and violent to really be effective. This is a film for and by horror fans. With a 1st person perspective, Maniac puts you in the shoes of a psychotic killer, but it often feels burdened by this form. It often feels more like an experiment than an actual film. But what pulls you back to the film is Elijah Wood's terrific and terrifying performance as the mannequin store owner with mommy issues.

The film has fun with its horror trappings, and spends more time making you revel in the gore rather than being frightened by it. I'm sure many people will be turned off by its graphic nature, but there are things to enjoy about this film. It's definitely not a great film, mainly due to its inability to craft a consistent tone, but there is plenty to enjoy about this film, like Elijah Wood.