Review: Maniac (2013)

I’ve not seen the original Maniac but I know of its reputation for being one of the bloodiest slasher films of the 80s, when I heard that Elijah Wood was staring in a remake of the same name I was interested to see how he handled the subject matter. But what I wasn’t expecting was one of the more intimate and original entries into the serial killer genre and one of the most sickeningly and brilliantly violent films I’ve ever seen.

I mean, I kinda loved it.

The film follows Frank, a troubled (understatement of the year) young man who tries to live a normal life and meet women online but his dark, twisted and murderous desires take over him and he kills anyone he gets too close to, taking their scalps and projecting his victims onto the mannequin dolls he keeps in his home-studio. When Frank meets Anna, pretty young photographer who shares his interest in mannequins (although not to the same degree), Frank tries to befriend her and start a relationship, all while hiding his dark side from her by taking it out on other victims.

But the closer Frank gets to Anna, the more he has to mentally fight himself from hurting her, all while his traumatising memories of his prostitute mother force him to relive the life that led him to becoming a serial killer.

It’s not much of a plot but it’s a solid character piece, we see so much of Frank’s psychology, helped immensely by the fact that the whole film is shot in a schizophrenic POV, that even when he’s brutally scalping his victims it’s a shocking yet pitying experience. Frank finally has a chance for a normal life but his anger and frustration, combined with his mental illnesses, refuse to let him have that chance, it’s quite a good little serial killer story, delving deeper into the whys than most I’ve seen in the genre.

The characters were a little weak but then again other than Frank none of them were really important. Anna I guess you could say was one of the most important elements of the film but there wasn’t much to her. You can see why Frank falls for her, she’s pretty, she’s kind, she’s friendly, she’s the first woman not to see Frank’s hobby as weird. I would’ve ultimately liked more scenes between Frank and Anna but I liked what we got.

However this film belongs to Elijah Wood as Frank, the titular maniac. I don’t know where to begin with Frank, he’s not only the centre-piece of the movie, he IS the damn movie. Wood gives a truly outstanding performance of a man on the edge, a man that will rip your head open but you feel sorry for him having to do it. You don’t know whether to feel sorry for Frank or fear him, he has moments of regret where he blames an unseen force for his murderous obsession, there’s flashbacks to him as a child watching his junkie whore of a mother getting fucked - most likely the catalyst for his voyeuristic nature. He appears like a normal man and that’s what makes him so fuckin terrifying, he looks and appears normal until you get closer and realise how dangerous he is. The fact that Wood can bring about the disgustingly violent nature of this animal forward but still have us sympathise and feel sorry for him is no mean feat. It’s an incredible performance and one that makes this film so damn great.

The first and most obvious note for the direction is that the film is shot nearly all in POV, through Frank’s eyes meaning we very rarely see his face, at least not without reflection. It’s an odd aesthetic choice but it works, for a film that gets this close, this intimate towards its lead character, a villain in his own right, what better way to get in his head than to actually go into his head. The result is pretty fucking incredible since it allows us to see from Frank’s fucked-up perspective, his delusions about people staring at him – even more uncomfortable since everyone is also staring at us, the audience – his hallucinations of blood and violence, his visual memories of his mother. We see what Frank sees and that level of intimacy for this character gives us a great showing of how unreliable and how disturbed Frank is as a person whilst also utilising the POV to have the unwavering, grotesque violence to show how despicable Frank is as a serial killer

That’s another thing about this film, it is brutal and bloody as fuck and the close-up and personal nature of it all just made it all the more difficult to watch, the scalping were bad enough - including one particularly nasty one, you’ll know when you see it but it made me wince - but there was also evisceration, cleavers to heads, strangulations, ankle cutting, not the bloodiest or goriest I’ve seen but probably the most brutal I’ve seen. Yet despite the twisted nature of the violence the film does look incredible, it’s got a sleek yet gritty look, mixing the rough violent nature with its smooth calm outer layer, much like Frank himself the city is hiding it’s true self and it’s only when Frank comes out that that fear and disgusting nature is unleashed.

One more thing I want to mention is the score, it’s very electronic and ethereal, fitting the 80s style of the original film whilst also being suitably creepy for this remake and working perfectly in sync with Frank’s broken psychology. It’s a very nightmarish feel that you get when the score kicks in, it gives you chills but still fits in with Frank’s quest to find love, it’s an odd mix but it’s a marriage made in heaven, or hell.

One hauntingly beautiful track called Juno sticks out for me especially.

Maniac I find hard to recommend because I know it’s stylish approach, constant P.O.V. camera and horrifying brutality will turn people off but if you get the chance check it out, it’s a unique film that is unlike anything you’ve seen before and Elijah Wood’s sympathetically damaged performance is worth the price alone. Highly recommended but strong stomach required.

9/10