Maniac is a very disturbing movie depicting a lone schizoid psychotic impelled to murder women one by one. After he murders them he scalps them and uses their hair for his collection of mannequins. These murder scenes are performed with lewd gusto and sometimes exceeds melodramatic violence with its use of gore.
The director makes an effort at portraying the killer's psychological structure. In a few scenes we hear the maniac's hallucinations asking him `why do you do these things,' and a few scenes depict him as somewhat conscious and fearful of his demons. However, the film does not pursue these themes and, unfortunately, we are made to hate the murder for who he is.
Nevertheless, the film was made at a time when mental illness was overlooked,and in addition, this is a horror movie and not a drama where these issues are questioned --- a la, Henry; Portrait Of A Serial Killer.
On the contrary, Maniac can be an entertaining film, once the viewer relinquishes its disturbing topics. Maniac was made on a low budget and this gives the film a suspenseful ambiance. The film has fun with misogyny, sometimes sticking it in the face of the viewers while scorning us at the same time. My favorite scene is the Bunuelian hallucinatory sequence, where rotting mannequins attack the title character, thus (somewhat) recapitulating the film.
Maniac is one of those films where we shouldn't care one bit; in other words, it's a bomb. Moreover, once the viewer has immersed into it he/she will forget the pitfalls and have fun i.e. a roller coaster ride. However, for those who are offended by graphic violence and psychological stereotyping, stay away from The Maniac.
The director makes an effort at portraying the killer's psychological structure. In a few scenes we hear the maniac's hallucinations asking him `why do you do these things,' and a few scenes depict him as somewhat conscious and fearful of his demons. However, the film does not pursue these themes and, unfortunately, we are made to hate the murder for who he is.
Nevertheless, the film was made at a time when mental illness was overlooked,and in addition, this is a horror movie and not a drama where these issues are questioned --- a la, Henry; Portrait Of A Serial Killer.
On the contrary, Maniac can be an entertaining film, once the viewer relinquishes its disturbing topics. Maniac was made on a low budget and this gives the film a suspenseful ambiance. The film has fun with misogyny, sometimes sticking it in the face of the viewers while scorning us at the same time. My favorite scene is the Bunuelian hallucinatory sequence, where rotting mannequins attack the title character, thus (somewhat) recapitulating the film.
Maniac is one of those films where we shouldn't care one bit; in other words, it's a bomb. Moreover, once the viewer has immersed into it he/she will forget the pitfalls and have fun i.e. a roller coaster ride. However, for those who are offended by graphic violence and psychological stereotyping, stay away from The Maniac.