Maniac is a 1980 US serial killer horror by William Lustig. See IMDb
The US release is the uncut Theatrical Version and is MPAA Unrated for:
Previously the Theatrical Version was passed 18 after 58s of BBFC cuts for:
- UK 2006 Anchor Bay R0 DVD
- UK 2002 Anchor Bay R0 DVD
The BBFC commented:
- Cuts required to reduce length of sexualised strangulation sequence by half
- and to remove shots of a knife played over and stabbing into female flesh with sexual connotations.
The BBFC banned the 1998 Exploited video.
The BBFC banned the 1981 cinema release.
Review from US Amazon: Shocking
I’m not easily shocked or impressed with most horror films. This is definitely a film that will leave you thinking. The main reason being the main character Frank Zito aka Joe Spinell plays the most realistic psycho/deranged person I’ve ever seen on film. The whole time I was thinking is this guy really insane? Either this guy is a genius actor or he’s really nuts. That’s how real he is in this role. His presence will creep you out. He’s the biggest weirdo I’ve ever seen on film.
The story focuses on frank the serial killer and his killings and insanity. He calmly stalks his pray through the streets of NYC. I don’t know how he manages to fool some of the people in this film but he does. They treat him like a normal guy until he tries to kill them when they least expect it.
Some of the scenes are gruesome, but they will keep you on the edge of your seat. You will be able to put yourself in both franks shoes and feel the victims terror as she is stalked and hides from Frank… Especially the subway bathroom scene. That’s an intense scene. Frank keeps on killing till the end when his own demons finally come back to haunt him.
Any horror fan should have this in their collection. I can see why it was banned in Germany and England. They were probably scared of it, considering how realistic it was.
