Maniac Blu-ray features mediocre video and superb audio in this excellent Blu-ray release
Frank Zito is a deeply disturbed man, haunted by the traumas of unspeakable childhood abuse. And when these horrific memories begin to scream inside his mind, Frank prowls the seedy streets of New York City to stalk and slaughter innocent young women. Now Frank has begun a relationship with a beautiful photographer, yet his vile compulsions remain. These are the atrocities of a human monster. This is the story of a MANIAC.
Maniac. That's as succinct and apt a title as there ever was, and it's the perfect descriptor of the main character in Director William Lustig's
disturbing profile of a psychologically-warped individual who struggles through his violent outbursts but can't stop himself from doing wrong, even as
his moral compass desperately tries to steer him away from his perverse actions. Maniac is about the mind of a killer and not his physical
misdeeds; while the stalking and killing of his prey form the bulk of the picture's runtime, it's those moments where he attempts to rationalize his
actions
or, more relevant to the plot, prevent himself from going against his better judgment by once again killing innocent women that truly shape
and define the film. Maniac is one of the more purely frightening pictures on record, not for its violence but for its incredible portrayal of a man
at war with himself, struggling to ward off those maniacal desires from which he simply cannot escape, ignore, or prevent. Backed by a stunningly
complex and poignant performance by Joe Spinell (The Godfather), Maniac is a terrifying portrait of a man torn
between right and wrong who can distinguish
between the two but cannot stop himself from acting on his most unspeakable desires.
Why am I doing this?
Frank Zito (Spinell) is a diseased man. Haunted by a past he cannot forget and unable to control his action in the present, he hunts down women
and murders them in an effort to cope with past wrongs and misdeeds that left him a broken and scared man. Although he hates what he does and
who he's become, the temptation to kill proves too much, and he puts a city on edge with every new and grisly killing. Zito scalps his female
victims, takes their clothes, and decorates his collection of mannequins with his prizes. Hs creations satisfy him only for a short time; when the
novelty has worn off, he goes against
his better judgment and begins the cycle all over again. While in search of his next victim, Frank's picture is snapped by a local photographer named
Anna (Caroline Munro, Starcrash), and the two develop a relationship with romantic
possibilities. Around Anna, Frank is a different person; he's a perfect gentleman and the perfect date, a man of many charms and an innocence and
humbleness that Anna cannot resist. As their relationship blossoms, Frank continues to kill. Can an unaware Anna salvage whatever humanity
may be left inside Frank, or will his addiction make her just another victim to decorate Frank's newest mannequin?
For Frank Zito, killing is an addiction. Whereas some people struggle with a guilt complex that's a result of eating too much junk food or
smoking too many cigarettes, Zito finds that he cannot stop killing, even against his better judgment and even as he understands the damage it's
doing to
himself and the world around him. He knows what he does is wrong, but he can't break himself of the habit, that innate desire, that nagging urge
that won't go away, and once he's done the deed, his guilt and the pain he suffers as a result tears at his very core. Frank doesn't kill for no reason;
he's rationalized the murders as a means of coping with personal tragedy and loss, but he knows that murder isn't the proper outlet for his regrets,
frustrations, and senses of despair and loss. William Lustig's Maniac is a carefully-constructed film, one that's deliberate almost to a fault
but that allows the true horrors that play out both on-screen and within Frank's mind to saturate the screen and permeate the deepest recesses of
the audiences' consciousness. Maniac is at once both disgusting and beautiful; it's a film that's almost impossible to watch for both the
violence on display and the agony that tears through a man's soul, but viewers at the same time cant help but admire the craftsmanship and
impeccable performance that makes it one of the most psychologically terrifying films ever made. That it can find such an intimacy in the way it
frames Frank Zito and make the audience both disgusted with and sympathetic towards him is almost a singular achievement in cinema.
Maniac is gripping stuff, and despite the gruesomeness that plays out on the screen and the uneasiness that quickly settles into the viewers'
collective gut, it's a film that's impossible to resist, if only to see how much good can be found in a movie that's this visually and thematically ugly
and upsetting.
Although Maniac begins with a sequence that just screams Horror cheese -- highlighting a grunting killer, punctuating the terror with a
score built around shrieking highs, and capped off by an awfully phony-looking pair of kill scenes -- it becomes clear as the picture moves on that
there's
much more here than a simple slasher picture. The emotional and psychological depth that separates Maniac from most other genre films
is readily evident, but there's plenty more in store that elevates the film to heights rarely achieved in the Horror genre. The combination of William
Lustig behind the camera and Joe Spinell in front of it makes for one of the best one-two punches in Horror movie history. Spinell's
disquieting performance is exceptional, and Lustig's direction accentuates Frank Zito's instability to unsettling perfection. Spinell's ability to play
what
amounts to three distinct characters -- a crazed killer, a remorseful victim of his own doing, and a sweet and honest boyfriend to a local
photographer -- makes his one of the best performances ever to grace a Horror movie, and no doubt Maniac simply wouldn't work without
an actor capable of pulling off all three of the diverse styles the part demands. Spinell's remarkable effort is supported by both Lustig and special
effects technician extraordinaire Tom Savini (Dawn of the Dead), neither of whom shy away from the here necessary
ultra-violence that plays throughout the picture. In Maniac, the excess gruesomeness only serves to accentuate the story and further
reinforce the ugly
deeds and the resultant torn conscience of the lead character; the grotesque scalpings, severe shotgun blasts, stabbings, and mutilations are
tough to look at but they're done with purpose rather than merely for the sake of covering the screen with excess gore. That balance between the
unspeakable acts of violence and the resultant further tearing of Zito's soul is necessary in making the movie work at such an effective level. Finally,
Maniac uses sound and score to excellent effect; the picture captures a haunting, shrieking, almost otherworldly soundtrack to accentuate
both the physical violence and the internal struggle of the main character, putting the finishing touches on one of Horror's best and most effective
films.
Maniac's 1080p transfer looks awfully rough, to say the least. One can expect a lesser quality from a picture filmed at 16mm, but
Maniac looks particularly murky and flat, even for a lower resolution film. The image is home to some chunky background noise --
differentiated from its heavy grain structure -- plenty of blocking, and generally poor color gradations. Colors are dim throughout, and details are flat and
almost nonexistent in most every shot, whether analyzing close-up shots of actors, building façades, or a streetwalker's fur coat. Black crush is evident
in some places, and blacks look pale in others. Several static white spots appear and remain for extended periods of time, while the image
briefly stutters in chapter 11. A few random pops, scratches, and stray lines are also visible throughout. Maniac's transfer is simply tough to
judge. This isn't a pretty film by any means, and the lower resolution of 16mm film, combined with a generally dark atmosphere, low light conditions,
and small budget certainly do no favors for the film's innate picture quality; that roughness is ever-present on this Blu-ray release.
Maniac's DTS-HD MA 7.1 lossless soundtrack fares much better than its video counterpart. Full, crisp, spacious, and clear, Blue Underground's
soundtrack excels on the high definition format and supports the movie extremely well. The track's score features a string of strongly-realized highs, a
solid midrange, and an excellent low end, with the highs and lows in particular playing off one another and making for some superbly chilling sonic
Horror elements. The surround speakers offer their full support to the music, whether helping out with Jay Chattaway's ("Star Trek: Voyager") excellent
score, various restaurant atmospherics, or echoing voices. The film's famous shotgun blasts play as startlingly real and with that powerful but somewhat
tinny sound that accompanies them; listeners who have fired such a weapon in real life will be surprised with how accurate the blasts sound. Dialogue is
clear and precise, even if it comes off as a bit shrill at times, and it remains focused up the middle. Blue Underground is to be commended on the
incredible
quality of this lossless soundtrack.
Blue Underground has splurged on this Blu-ray release of Maniac, providing a plethora of bonus features spread across two discs. Disc one
begins
with a pair of audio commentary tracks, the first with Co-Producer/Director William Lustig and Co-Producer Andrew W. Garroni. Recorded in July
2010,
this track is typically excellent of a Lustig commentary. He speaks on the film's inspiration (Jaws, oddly enough), trivia from the set, parallels
between the film and a real-life event, the challenges that presented themselves during the making of the film, Joe Spinell's performance, the film's
budget and sources of the monies needed to finish it, the picture's gore and special effects, securing the rights to use music, the picture's unique feel,
selling
the
picture, its legacy and reaction, life on home video, and much more. As always, Lustig is energetic, honest, and eager to share his insights into the
film.
This is an excellent track that fans will adore. The second track also features Co-Producer/Director William Lustig, this time accompanied by Special
Make-Up Effects Artist Tom Savini, Editor Lorenzo Marinelli, and Joe Spinell's Assistant Luke Walter. Though some information repeats, there's plenty
of interesting tidbits to be found. The commentators discuss the history of the production, the low budget and technical limitations, shooting locales,
Joe
Spinell's off-screen contributions and dedication to the picture, production design, special effects, and plenty more. Again, this track is full of energy
and sincerity, making it, too, a must-listen.
Disc one continues with Anna and the Killer -- Interview with Star Caroline Munro (1080p, 13:08), a fine piece that features the actress
discussing her reaction to the film, her personal history, her work with Joe Spinell on Starcrash, landing the role in Maniac, the
character she plays, her reaction to the final film, and more. Both The Death Dealer -- Interview with Special Make-Up Effects Artist Tom
Savini
(1080p, 12:11) and Dark Notes -- Interview with Composer Jay Chattway (1080p, 12:13) feature the legendary effects guru and composer,
respectively, discussing their work on the film. Next up is Maniac Men -- Interview with Songwriters Michael Sembello and Dennis Matkosky
(1080p, 10:38), a piece hosted by William Lustig that looks at the controversy surrounding an Academy Award-nominated song for Flashdance but that was, supposedly, originally written for
Maniac. Next up is a series of trailers: U.S. 'Hard' Trailer (1080p, 1:34), U.S. 'Soft' Trailer (1080p, 1:21), International
Trailer (480p, 3:48), French Trailer (480p, 1:22), German Teaser (480p, 0:55), German Trailer (480p, 2:50), and
Italian Trailer (480p, 3:24). Nine TV spots (480p, 3:09 combined runtime), four radio spots (1080p, 3:13), and Mr. Robbie: 'Maniac 2'
Promo Reel (1080p, 7:28) are also included. The easter egg William Friedkin Talks About 'Maniac' (1080p, 0:54) may be found by using
the left arrow to highlight an invisible option on
the main menu screen.
Disc two is a DVD with several additional features. The Joe Spinell Story (480p, 49:12) is a captivating documentary by David Gregory that
features Joe's family, friends, and colleagues recalling his childhood, his personality, his courage in approaching top directors like William Friedkin and
Francis Ford Coppola for parts, his natural acting abilities, the sort of characters he played, his life and hobbies outside the world of cinema, the films in
which he starred, his unique personality, and more, with an emphasis in the second half of the documentary on his work in Maniac and the
actors' personal downfall and untimely death. 'Maniac Publicity' contains a host of extras not found on the primary disc.
'Paul Wunder' Radio Interview with William Lustig, Joe Spinell, and Carline Munro (480p, 19:11) is an interview piece with the film's cast and
crew discussing Maniac's violence, its purpose, the picture's quality and legitimacy, and more. William Lustig on 'Movie Madness'
(480p,
47:18) features Lustig fielding questions from the host and callers on a black-and-white call-in show, originally recorded on February 18, 1981.
Joe Spinell at Cannes (480p, 0:44) features the Maniac actor at the famed festival. Joe Spinell on 'The Joe Franklin Show'
(480p, 13:13) and Carline Munro TV Interview (480p, 2:54) both feature the main actors giving televised interviews. Next is Barf Bag
Review Policy (480p, 2:10), a short piece that features television critic Katie Kelly setting up a new ratings system for bad movies, but she fails to
actually give
Maniac a rating (though it's not hard to guess what she'd give it). Grindhouse Film Festival Q&A (480p, 22:20) features Lustig and
others fielding questions from an
audience prior to a screening of Maniac. Rounding out this section is Maniac Publicity, a still gallery.
The last tab features 'Maniac Controversy', an assortment of regionally-categorized negative reactions to the film. Things begin in Los
Angeles with three segments: Channel 7 News, 3/6/81, 11:00PM (480p, 2:19), Channel 11 News, 3/6/81, 10:30PM (480p,
1:35), and NBC Tomorrow Show, 3/10/81 (480p, 3:55). Chicago features Channel 2 News, 2/3/81, 10:00PM (480p, 2:14).
Philadelphia contains four segments: Channel 10 News, 3/2/81, 11:00PM (480p, 0:29), Channel 3 News, 3/3/81, 6:00PM
(480p, 1:13), Channel 3 News, 3/3/81, 11:00PM (480p, 0:51), and Channel 6 News, 3/3/81, 5:30PM (480p, 0:54).
Newsbeat
contains two segments, Violent Movies (480p, 12:45) and Movie Violence (480p, 8:27). Next is Midnight Blue, featuring two
clips: Al Goldstein Rants Against Violent Movies (480p, 3:54) and Al Goldstein Mutilates His Love Doll 480p, 2:39). Finally, Gallery
of Outrage features a plethora of negative critic quotes, as well as a letter from the Philippines' Board of Review for Motion Pictures & Television.
Maniac isn't for everyone. Even seasoned Horror veterans may be put off not by the gore but instead by the deeply unsettling psychological
overtones that permeate the film and haunt the audience. It's one thing to watch a hulking killer slaughter his prey for no real reason; it's another
entirely to bear witness to a man who is almost detached from his body, unable to stop his actions and paying the price at the expense of his devastated
soul. Maniac works thanks to a one-of-a-kind performance from the late Joe Spinell that's supported by well-done gore, fantastic direction, and
an incredible soundtrack. Maniac is a tough watch, but for those who can look past the superficial façade and see the film's value beyond its
shock factor will be rewarded with a masterpiece of Horror. Blue Underground has once again delivered a high quality Blu-ray release for one of the top
titles in its catalogue. Although the video transfer is rough, the lossless soundtrack is fantastic and two discs worth of wonderful extras make this a
package
that's easily recommended.
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Blue Underground has announced Maniac for release on a two-disc special edition Blu-ray on October 26. Directed by William Lustig and featuring landmark gore effects by Tom Savini, this relentlessly shocking and disturbing film was originally censored all over ...
