Metrodome Distribution have informed us that it has been confirmed by the BBFC that Franck Khalfoun's Maniac has not been cut back from its original Fright Fest reel and therefore has been certified as an 18. The film premiered at the Cannes Film Festival Official Midnight Screening selection.
From producers/writers Alexander Aja and Gregory Levasseur (Switchblade Romance, The Hills Have Eyes) and director Franck Khalfoun (P2). Maniac is a stylized and technical triumph, with a nerve-shredding Argento tribute score -- the entire movie is shot from the killer's point-of-view.
In France, Maniac is set to appear on Blu-ray on May 15th. See our listing here.
Note: Please be advised that the trailer below is not safe to view at work.
Perhaps you should have mentioned that one of the producers is Thomas Langmann, best known for producing an entirely different kind of "horror film" -- The Artist.
I'm so pumped to see this. I am generally against remakes. Yes, the original is always there but often the remakes are so terrible that one can't help but be left with a bad taste in their mouth when they think of the original after seeing the remake. It's like falling in love with a man or woman, thinking the world of them based on what you know and then someone comes along and tells you something really ugly about their past that you can't get over and has given you a new, uglier perspective on the one you used to love and what you're left with is the love you've always felt for them but this new information alters your feelings towards them.
Alexandre Aja gets remakes or reimaginings right when he's involved in the making of one. There's always a unique touch to it that doesn't leave one comparing it to the original anywhere near as much as all those platinum dunes remakes and the likes. Sure there will always be the comparisons but not quite as much because they just feel like such different entities altogether.
Elijah Wood looks savage and brilliant as hell in the role of Frank, the POV cinematography looks wonderful, the music is supposed to be stunning. I cannot wait. This looks psychologically demented as hell.
The French release looks good for the simple fact that it comes with the soundtrack CD which is a great touch, but there's nowhere near as much in the way of special features as I was expecting... perhaps that lone making of featurette will turn out to be a feature length documentary like the citizens of cosmopolis featurette for David Cronenberg's Cosmopolis which was almost 2 hours long. I doubt that, but one can hope and I really am hoping! haha
Does this mean the film will be released uncut? I am asking this because films have been released in Britain rated 18 but were still cut, e.g. "A Serbian Film".
I just want this to open in theatres in North America!! It looks friggin' fantastic!! The free first six minutes they've released took my breath away...
Metrodome Distribution have informed us that it has been confirmed by the BBFC that Franck Khalfoun's Maniac has not been cut back from its original Fright Fest reel and therefore has been certified as an 18. The film premiered at the Cannes Film Festival Official Midnight Screening selection. 
