Review of Maniac (2012) by Stephen C — 15 Sep 2013
A slasher film starring Frodo Baggins in the lead???????? No wait come back this is a pretty descent slasher film with a fine central performance from Elijah Wood.
Wood plays Frank Zito a man facinated with show room dummies and more troublesome collecting the scalps of younG women on the mean streets of LA.
The film is of course a remake of William Lustigs brutal grindhouse slasher classic,but unlike that film there is a novel idea at the heart of the film .#.
Director Franck Khalfoun shoots most of Franks actions from his perpective which means plenty of POV shots and Wood leering into mirrors after he commits his crimes.
The gore content is quite high and you may feel the films tretement of women is stuck in the dark ages,i know at some points I thougbt the film was over egging its gore content.
Moving the films location from New York to LA is quite revealing too as of course New York has transformed a great deal since its low point in the early 80s.
LA on the other hand still has that scuzzy feel where danger and madness lurk in every dark corner of it streets.
As for Woods casting well its a gamble that sort of pays off as he can be sweet and charming one moment and a swivelled eyed loon the next although there are a few moments when it looks like he is going over the top.
Yes the film is violent and gory but then unlike some slasher film remakes this improves on the original and adds another level to the slasher film genre .
Strong stuff then but worth catching at the same time too.
This review of Maniac (2012) was written by Stephen C on 15 Sep 2013.
Maniac has generally received mixed reviews.
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