A psychopathic man goes on a killing and mutilation spree in New York City.A psychopathic man goes on a killing and mutilation spree in New York City.A psychopathic man goes on a killing and mutilation spree in New York City.
- Awards
- 1 nomination total
Abigail Clayton
- Rita
- (as Gail Lawrence)
James L. Brewster
- Beach Boy
- (as James Brewster)
Frank Pesce
- T.V. Reporter
- (voice)
Storyline
Did you know
- TriviaWilliam Lustig and Joe Spinell say they didn't always have the necessary permits to film on location in New York City. Certain scenes (including the infamous shotgun through the windshield scene) had to have been filmed quickly and afterwards the crew had to run away before the cops arrived.
- GoofsThe nurse is supposedly alone in the subway station, but during one shot (from inside the subway train as it pulls away) we can see several people walking about on the platform; they all disappear in the next shot.
- Quotes
Frank Zito: I told you not to go out tonight, didn't I? Every time you go out, this kind of thing happens.
- Alternate versionsThe film was rejected for a cinema certificate in 1981 by the BBFC and also for a video rating in 1998. It was finally released in the UK on the Anchor Bay label in 2002 after receiving 58 secs of cuts to a prolonged strangulation scene and to a sexualized stabbing sequence.
- ConnectionsEdited from Inferno (1980)
Featured review
William Lustig's MANIAC wasn't a critical hit in 1980, but it garnered the attention of horror fans in its gory homicidal story. It was a low-budget film with some disturbing violence which many people deemed misogynist (TOTAL BULLS**T) because he kills off women here. It's good to notice two of the best murders happen to the fellas too (Tom Savini gets it the worst obviously). But that aside, MANIAC is neither the best horror film of all time or most enjoyable, but damn is it intense.
Joe Spinell is absolutely strong in his portrayal of Frank Zito, a real man who has a nasty habit of slaughtering random individuals, mostly female ones so he can dress up mannequins with their scalped hair and clothes. This guy isn't Michael or Jason: when he bleeds, he feels pain. And because he feels guilty a bit over the tragic death of his abusive mother, he feels the urge to murder. Frank falls in love with Anna (Caroline Munro), a photographer who is unaware of Frank's dirty deeds, until Frank sets his unrested demon upon her in the end. The ending is bizarre, and the love story subplot feels a tad unsuitable (although the restaurant scene sets up some exposition, including the knowledge of Frank's mom being killed in an auto wreck). But when the gory carnage sets in, its realistic and graphic. Most other gore flicks seem timid.
The DVD version from ANCHOR BAY is a keeper, with audio commentary, a documentary on the late Spinell, the obligatory trailers/TV ads, a radio interview pitting the Spinell, Lustig and Munro against a DJ who roasts the film despite not seeing it, and some more angry comments from the critics in a "Gallery of Outrage". Tin box version contains the moody and effective Jay Chattaway film score on CD.
Joe Spinell is absolutely strong in his portrayal of Frank Zito, a real man who has a nasty habit of slaughtering random individuals, mostly female ones so he can dress up mannequins with their scalped hair and clothes. This guy isn't Michael or Jason: when he bleeds, he feels pain. And because he feels guilty a bit over the tragic death of his abusive mother, he feels the urge to murder. Frank falls in love with Anna (Caroline Munro), a photographer who is unaware of Frank's dirty deeds, until Frank sets his unrested demon upon her in the end. The ending is bizarre, and the love story subplot feels a tad unsuitable (although the restaurant scene sets up some exposition, including the knowledge of Frank's mom being killed in an auto wreck). But when the gory carnage sets in, its realistic and graphic. Most other gore flicks seem timid.
The DVD version from ANCHOR BAY is a keeper, with audio commentary, a documentary on the late Spinell, the obligatory trailers/TV ads, a radio interview pitting the Spinell, Lustig and Munro against a DJ who roasts the film despite not seeing it, and some more angry comments from the critics in a "Gallery of Outrage". Tin box version contains the moody and effective Jay Chattaway film score on CD.
- DeadMilkboy
- Nov 24, 2001
- Permalink
Details
- Release date
- Country of origin
- Language
- Also known as
- 瘋狂殺手
- Filming locations
- Hotel St. James, 109 West 45th St, Manhattan, New York City, New York, USA(the hotel where Frank kills the prostitute)
- Production company
- See more company credits at IMDbPro
Box office
- Budget
- $350,000 (estimated)
- Runtime1 hour 27 minutes
- Color
- Sound mix
- Aspect ratio
- 1.85 : 1
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