Maniac
Maniac

Movie spotlight

Maniac

2012
Movie
89 min
English

As he helps a young artist with her upcoming exhibition, the owner of a mannequin shop's deadly, suppressed desires come to the surface.

Insights

IMDb5.7/10
Rotten Tomatoes46%
Metacritic51/100
Google Users48%
Director: Frank KhalfounGenres: Horror, Thriller, Slasher

Plot Summary

A deeply disturbed man, suffering from delusions that cause him to see women as targets for his violent impulses, stalks the streets of Los Angeles. He begins to see his mother's face in his victims, leading him on a horrifying path of psychological torment and brutal murder. As he continues his spree, he becomes increasingly consumed by his fractured reality.

Critical Reception

Maniac (2012) is a remake of the 1980 film of the same name. The film garnered a polarized reception, with praise directed at its intense atmosphere, stylized visuals, and Elijah Wood's committed performance, while criticism often focused on its graphic violence and bleak subject matter.

What Reviewers Say

  • Elijah Wood delivers a disturbing and compelling performance as the titular character.

  • The film is visually striking and creates a palpable sense of dread.

  • Its unrelenting graphic violence and bleak tone are not for the faint of heart.

Google audience: Audiences found the film to be a disturbing and unsettling horror experience. While some appreciated the intense atmosphere and Wood's performance, many found the excessive gore and grim narrative difficult to stomach.

Fun Fact

Elijah Wood spent hours researching mental illnesses and serial killers to prepare for his role as Frank/Maniac.

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My Review

TMDB Reviews

2 reviews
Dr_Nostromo

Dr_Nostromo

32/100 Frodo! Say it ain't so!! Actually, far from being typecast, Elijah Wood has grabbed quite a variety of roles including this one as a totally psychopathic - but likable - manikin maker and does a fantastic job. Unfortunately, that'...

John Chard

John Chard

Mannequinac! Having not seen the original film that this is a remake of, I have no frame of reference. Entering into it oblivious to any sort of bias or guideline, this Maniac proves to be a nifty shocker, one that is not without style e...