Maniac

The slasher boom of the 1980's started with Friday the 13th in 1980. It was the first mainstream film to utilize the formula established in Halloween and add gory visual effects. Friday the 13th was the template for all slashers released in the 80's, and it's now cemented as a genre classic. However, there was another slasher film released in 1980 that flew under everyone's radar; William Lustig's Maniac. This down and dirty slasher was pushed under the rug due to it's insanely graphic violence, it's dark tone, and it's odd story structure. It has a huge cult following now, and personally I think it's one of the best slashers ever made.

The story follows Frank Zito (played brilliantly by Joe Spinell), as he rampages through New York, killing innocent people and occasionally taking their scalp as a souvenir. We learn that Frank has mother issues, and everything he does is driven by her spirit. He kills women and takes their scalps because his mother doesn't approve of them. Meanwhile, Frank meets Anna, and they really hit it off. Could it be that Frank can change for Anna and finally be free of his mother? This is a great story for a slasher film. It gives gorehounds something to drool over, as well as an odd love story to mix things up. It's like nothing I've watched.

The thing that really sells this film is the acting. Joe Spinell is brilliant because we never really, truly know what's going on on his head. At the drop of a hat, he can be the most sinister murderer you've ever seen or a sympathetic victim of a broken mind. His character is well fleshed out and three dimensional, making him a very unique slasher killer. Caroline Munro (Anna) also does an amazing job. She's nice, and you genuinely want things between her and Frank to work out. The victims are all quite convincing, and they all sell the anguish of being brutally slaughtered. Overall, it's a surprisingly well acted slasher.

Another thing that this film did right was the setting. The streets of New York have never looked more dirty and unforgiving (accept maybe in Taxi Driver), and that makes every kill that much more brutal.  The film was shot on 16mm, which obviously helps make everything look more grimy. Every scene is dark, unrelenting, and claustrophobic. It also helps that a lot of Frank's victims are prostitutes, making everything that much more sleazy. the setting really reflects Frank as a character. It shows a side of New York that is utterly terrifying, and you feel like danger lurks around every corner. 

But what would a slasher be without the kills? the gore in this film is truly top notch. Tom Savini did an amazing job making outstandingly bloody, yet realistic murder scenes. The kill this film is most known for is the infamous "shotgun scene", and I'd be lying if I didn't say it's my favorite kill in the film. It's perfectly paced, and the execution is impeccable. Other than that, the film has various stabbings, a brutal strangulation, and throat slashing. There are also many bizarre hallucination scenes, showing how troubled Frank's mind really is. It's a gore fest from beginning to end that definitely still holds up today.

Even though there's a huge fan base for this film now, I still feel that Maniac is underrated. It's a down and dirty film with some of the best kills ever filmed. It's the sleaziest slasher film ever made, and it's a mandatory view for any horror fan.