MANIAC

Director: William Lustig
1980

The setting is New York. The nights are dark and there’s a constant sense of fear in the minds of the city’s inhabitants. There’s a killer on the loose and only we can see who it is: Joe Spinnell AKA Frank Zito. At 1 minute 40 seconds we witness his first murder when he cuts the throat of a young girl awaiting her lover’s return as she lies on a dark beach. Her boyfriend gets his when he returns, complete with twitching foot spasm. Frank then wakes up in his bed, screaming and rocking back and forth like a madman – it was all a dream! It is clear to us that even after about 3 minutes of film, that Frank Zito has got some rather pressing mental health issues.

Maniac is one hell of a challenging film. It’s depraved and disgusting, and not one for repeat viewings unless you have problems. The issue is that it is very well made and is further strengthened by some strong performances, especially from the Maniac himself – Joe Spinnell. Maniac, like so many other horror movies throughout the years, was a labour of love and had an initial budget of $48,000. Lustig and Spinnell deserve credit for battling against the odds, like any independent filmmaking teams who deliver the goods do. Tom Savini’s gore effects are first-rate and could not be more convincing.

What it comes down to is a matter of taste and whether this particular piece of work is going to suit your palate. Those female groups who protested outside theatres which showed Maniac actually had a point. It IS sick. It IS depraved, but due mostly to Spinnell’s presence, there’s nothing quite like it. It IS Maniac.