Maniac (1980)
Maniac is a slasher movie directed by William Lustig released in 1980. It stars Joe Spinell as Frank Zito, a serial killer residing in New York City who murders and scalps young women. Cult actress Caroline Munro co-stars as Anna D’Antoni. Tom Savini has a role as boyfriend and was responsible for the splatter effects.
Maniac was one of the films that Joe Spinell and co-star Caroline Munro worked together. Another being the cult Scifi flic Starcrash.
Plot
Frank Zito (Joe Spinell) becomes a serial killer who murders young women, scalps them and attaches their hair to mannequins.
Notable Scenes
The infamous scene where Frank murders the boyfriend (played by Tom Savini)
This scene was loosely inspired by the “Son of Sam” murders.
Making of Maniac
Tom Savini, who served as the film’s make-up artist, received the role for the male victim from him because he already made a cast of his own head, which he filled with leftover food and fake blood. Savini used live ammunition to shoot it.
Our view on Maniac
Maniac is a good example of what you could do with a small budget and creative people. The gore is not dated at all thanks to the skills of Tom Savini. The acting of Joe Spinell en Caroline Munro is raw and intense. Definitely an Exploitflix recommendation
Trailer
Where to buy
Watch on Youtube
Details
Genre: Psychological thriller
Released in: 1980
Era: Eighties
Actors: Joe Spinel, Caroline Munro
Director: William Lustig
Poster artist: Unknown
