Maniac
(1980)
review by Krug Stillo

One the most brutal slashers ever made, offending feminist rights groups all over America upon it initial release. The grim subject matter of Maniac can be anticipated by glancing at the DVD box. It depicts a man from the waist down, there’s a woman’s severed head in one hand, a bloody knife in the
other and a bulge in his jeans between them. Could this be a romantic comedy? I think not. Directed by William Lustig, who later went on to direct the exploitation action flick, Vigilante, before achieving success with the Maniac Cop thrillers and featuring realistic make up from gore maestro, Tom Savini, Maniac is not a feel good movie either.

Joseph Zito (a nod towards the director of The Prowler, 1981, and Friday the 13th IV, 1984) is a very twisted and confused individual. Abused by his mother when he was a child, Joe now seeks revenge on the nubile females populace of New York City. The best murder sequence involves Savini having
his head blow clean off in slow gory motion, so it’s not all about being misogynist. At home, keeps a load of female mannequins on which he pins his female victims scalps. One day he meets a lovely photographer (Munro) who reminds him of his mother. Turning on the charm, to her he seems like a half decent bloke. They become friends, but it isn’t long before he’s twitching, stalking her model friend and trying to kill her too…

The acting from Spinell, who died in 1989, is both frightening and sympathetic. No longer in the gangster role he was most associated with (The Godfather, Rocky..etc.) There are scenes where he poetically raves aloud in his room, displaying two separate conflicting characters. One saying – “I warned you not to go out tonight,” the other “I didn’t mean it, those people are crazy.” His co-star, Munro returned with Spinell to star in The Last Horror Film in 1983 before appearing regularly on the UK TV game show, 321 with Ted Rogers.

A Maniac II was planned before Spinell’s death, but only the promotional reel was finished.

This Anchor Bay DVD has many special features, including: a documentary on Spinell tat has some great footage of him with Spielberg on the day of the 1977 Academy Award Nominations. Spielberg looses the best director Oscar for Jaws and Spinell begins to rant and complain: a radio interview with Lustig and Spinell and a load of theatrical trailers. The commentary, also featuring Tom Savini, is also appealing for those with a soft spot for this film.