The Lowdown: Maniacis one brutal, bloody, brilliant movie, and one of the best horror films I’ve seen. It is a remake of the 1980 classic starring Joe Spinell, and is one of the rare remakes that equals the original. As far as content goes, it’s ugly, violent, and disturbing since it’s a character study of one deranged individual. However, a unique style of filming, excellent performances, and unbearable tension in the film make this one worth watching. Warning: It’s not for the squeamish.
1. The Plot:Frank (Elijah Wood) is a deeply disturbed man who restores mannequins for a living. Of course, the mannequins are a front, since what he’s really obsessed with is murdering young women. Yeah, told you the content was ugly. Frank doesn’t enjoy doing this, but he can’t help himself since he is compelled to by his twisted inner conscience. One day, however, he meets Anna (Nora Arnezeder), a photographer, whom he develops feelings for. Will Frank be able to control himself and stop his sick ways, or will his inner maniac get the better of him?
I'll give you three guesses.
2. The Characters: Elijah Wood (Lord of the Rings) is Frank. It’s odd to think that the seemingly mild-mannered Elijah Wood would even consider taking the role of a deranged serial killer, but shockingly, Wood’s performance is riveting. He also doesn’t look like a psychotic murdered, and that may make his character even scarier. Anyways, Frank is somewhat of a tragic figure. He is a kind, normal person on the surface, if a bit shy and awkward around people, but once his dark side is revealed, he is utterly terrifying. What makes him tragic is that he is constantly struggling with himself. It’s as if the little angel and the little devil on his shoulders are always fighting with each other, but it’s the little devil that always wins even though Frank would rather do good instead of evil. This internal moral struggle is so frightening and yet, so interesting, and it makes for a very deep and fascinating character study.
Still, it doesn't take a genius to notice at least two things wrong with this picture.
Probably the only other character of note is Anna, played by Nora Arnezeder (Safe House). Anna is a photographer who is obsessed with mannequins, but not in the same way that Frank is. She wants to use Frank’s mannequins as part of her art showcase, and Frank obliges. It’s easy to see why Frank would be attracted to her. The performance by Arnezeder is also very good, made all the more captivating since she is such a huge contrast to Frank, and you as the viewer constantly fear for her.
Really, it's probably better if she just stayed away from mannequins.
3. POV: Maniac’s most intriguing aspect is how it is filmed almost entirely from Frank’s point of view, making for a truly immersive experience. We see what he sees, which means we hardly ever get to see Frank himself. This literally puts us into the mind of a killer, and that makes the film so much more effective. There are extended scenes of Frank stalking his prey, and as we watch the victim give Frank uneasy looks and run away, the tension builds and builds. When Frank is killing his victims, the camera never shies away since we are seeing what Frank sees. The violence is graphic, realistic, and unflinching, and the camera shows everything. It’s enough to make even the bravest of the brave cringe and wince. I did too, I admit.The Bottom Line: Maniac is an utterly terrifying, yet riveting horror film. It’s also incredibly difficult to watch since the tension is unbearable and the violent payoff is so brutal and shocking and unpredictable. At its core, Maniac is a character study of a truly warped individual who is basically a broken moral compass. A part of him says “Don’t do it!” while the other part of him says “I kill people” and always wins. It’s tragic, really. As far as horror films go, Maniac is one of the best I have ever seen. I highly recommend it. Again, it’s not for the squeamish.
Maniac is property of La Petite Reine, Studio 37, and Canal+. This review was written by me.
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