- Actors: Joe Spinell, Caroline Munro, Tom Savini, Kelly Piper, Gail Lawrence
- Directors: William Lustig
- Format: Import, PAL, Special Edition, Widescreen, DTS Surround Sound
- Language English
- Subtitles: Danish
- Region: Region 2 (This DVD may not be viewable outside Europe. Read more about DVD formats.)
- Number of discs: 2
- Studio: another world entertaiment..
- Run Time: 87 minutes
- Average Customer Review: 3.7 out of 5 stars See all reviews (21 customer reviews)
- ASIN: B002MUWMVG
- Amazon Bestsellers Rank: 30,820 in Film & TV (See Top 100 in Film & TV)
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Reviews
UNCUT 2 DISC SPECIAL EDITION..CUT FOR ITS UK RELEASE..
Frank Zito (a career performance by co-writer/co-executive producer Joe Spinell of ROCKY and THE GODFATHER fame) 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 (Caroline Munro of THE SPY WHO LOVED ME), yet his vile compulsions remain. These are the atrocities of a human monster. This is the story of a MANIAC.
Experience MANIAC like you've never seen or heard it before. Directed by William Lustig (MANIAC COP, VIGILANTE) and featuring landmark gore effects by Tom Savini (DAWN OF THE DEAD, FRIDAY THE 13th), this notorious classic was censored all over the world for its graphic violence and remains banned in England and Germany to this day. But MANIAC is more than just one of the most relentlessly depraved films of our time; it is quite possibly one of the most disturbing horror movies ever made.
DISC 1:
Maniac presented UNCUT in an Anamorphic (16:9) Widescreen Version
English DTS, English 5.1, English 2.0 audo options
Optional Danish, swedish, finnish, norwegian subtitles
Audio Commentary with Co-Producer/Director William Lustig, Special Make-Up Effects Artist Tom Savini, Editor Lorenzo Marinelli, and Joe Spinell's Assistant Luke Walter
DISC 2
Radio Interview with Co-Producer/Director William Lustig and Stars Joe Spinell & Caroline Munro
The Joe Spinell Story - documentary
Theatrical Trailers
TV Spots
Radio Spots
Poster & Still Gallery
Gallery Of Outrage
Biographies
Filmographies
Introduction by Nicolas Winding Refn (Pusher, Fear X)
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Customer Reviews
Most Helpful Customer Reviews
12 of 13 people found the following review helpful
Format:DVD
Bill Lustig coaxed a lifetime-great performance from Joe Spinell in the compelling, but thoroughly unpleasant gore-fest that is Maniac.
Whilst the blood 'n guts in a Romero or Fulcio horror is so OTT as to provide comedy value as well as shocks, the gore in Maniac feels so real (courtesy of Tom Savini in expert form) as to make the viewer feel uncomfortably like a guilty voyeur at the scene of something exceedingly nasty.
As an insight into a profoundly troubled mind and the shocking consequences of horrific childhood abuse (more hinted at than explained), Maniac also works pretty well. It cleverly treds the fine line between the viewer understanding what has made Frank Zito (Spinell) into the monster he became, whilst never sympathising with the appalling acts he commits.
Somewhat surprisingly for a low-budget movie in the gore-fest/video nasty category, Maniac is rather well acted. Spinell himself is scarily believable. The actress (sorry not sure of her name) in the extended toilet scene gives one of the most convincing depictions of utter terror ever seen. Whilst it is perhaps a little far fetched that anyone could fall for the dubious charms of Frank Zito, Caroline Munro plays a blinder as the beautiful, talented (if somewhat naive) photographer.
So, in my humble opinion, it is the sheer realism and honesty of Maniac that makes it work. On the occasions when it descends into more a supernatural horror style (including one scene in the cemetary ripped unashamedly from Carrie, and the final scene with the mannequins) its potency becomes diluted.
Enough quibling though. Fans of the genre will surely acknowledge Maniac as a very effective and truly disturbing horror movie.
The DVD is reasonably well-equipped. The remastered picture quality and sound are as good as you'd expect, the documentary about Spinell is fascinating and poignant, the director's commentary is insightful and amusing, and the critics' outraged reviews are hilarious.
Be warned though; you will probably feel like you need a bath after watching Maniac!
3 of 3 people found the following review helpful
Format:DVD
This review relates to the imported Region 2 edition. This edition is uncut. As slasher films go this is probably on the more depressing side. AWE have done a great job adding DTS sound and cleaned the picture up as much as possible. Avoid the UK release as it is trimmed by about 1 minute. Well worth a watch!
8 of 9 people found the following review helpful
Format:DVD
WOW! this is quite a movie. incredibly graphic and violent, this film takes the serial killing genre to the limits, and does it brilliantly. Right from the opening killing you know this film isnt for the light-hearted. The murder scenes are dramatic and very well filmed in order to stir fear in the audience, which they certainly do. 3 of my friends wouldnt carry on watching after the shotgun/car scene!
The tension that is built is also excellent, In my opinion the subway scene is one of if not the best build up to a murder in any film - cliqued but brilliant none-the-less.
The murderer is characterised well. The film follows his perverse mind, confusion and turmoil in a chilling way.
The tension that is built is also excellent, In my opinion the subway scene is one of if not the best build up to a murder in any film - cliqued but brilliant none-the-less.
The murderer is characterised well. The film follows his perverse mind, confusion and turmoil in a chilling way.
Brilliant film, be warned - thick-skinned adults only.
a fiver says it will scare the living §&$! outta u!
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Most Recent Customer Reviews
Beautiful and haunting
Maniac is often overlooked, but as a horror fan of the last thirty years I have no qualms in putting this movie in my all time top ten list. Read more
Published 4 months ago by Colonel Decker
very bad
This film was not worth even one star. Had a very good storyline, but very bad acting. Could have been so much better.
Published 11 months ago by horrorfan
Buy the region 1 version ....
It is UNCUT.
Us poor saps in the UK are missing 5 mins ...
also NO extras whatsoever!!!!
I have just finished watching this for the first time. Read more
Us poor saps in the UK are missing 5 mins ...
also NO extras whatsoever!!!!
I have just finished watching this for the first time. Read more
Published 21 months ago by jman jr
Fancy shmancy
I can only imagine the full impact of sitting in the darkened cavern of The Duce circa 1980 surrounded by New York denizens of all persuasions in what must have been one nerve... Read more
Published 23 months ago by Martin Montag
"I warned you not to go out tonight!".
Maniac tells the story of Frank played by Joe Spinell a killer who is haunted by the traumas of unspeakable childhood abuse and walks the streets of New York ready to stalk and... Read more
Published on 25 Feb 2010 by Puzzle box
BBFC!
Buy the Region 1 or better yet the European Another World 2 disc version. That merits a three star rating. This Uk version is useless. Read more
Published on 14 Mar 2009 by S. Kemp
Quite good
Maniac is a stange slasher movie as it is all from the view-point of the killer. I found this a bit dissapointing at first as the killer isnt exactly likeable and we just seem to... Read more
Published on 7 Jan 2009 by marky77
snooziac!
a cult classic? probably, cause a lot of nonsense get that label when there is no way in hell you could call it a good flick. Read more
Published on 6 Dec 2008 by helterskelter
THE best film about serial killing
People seem to miss the point of this film (by miles judging by the other reviews). It's a classic study of the suffering, mental self-torture and delusions that drive people to... Read more
Published on 1 July 2008 by Mrs. E. A. Molloy
Nothing special really.
A movie that has long had a reputation for being among the definitive slasher movies as well as for Caroline Munro appearing. Read more
Published on 27 Mar 2008 by I. R. Kerr
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