A psychopath, troubled by his childhood abuse, loose in New York City, kills young women and takes their scalps as his trophies. Will he find the perfect woman in a photographer, and end his killing spree?
Bill Pullman, aka President Whitmore from Independence Day, reveals what the movie studio wanted to call the film.
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Title: Maniac (1980)
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1 nomination.
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Edit
Cast
| Cast overview, first billed only: | |||
| Joe Spinell | ... | Frank Zito | |
| Caroline Munro | ... | Anna D'Antoni | |
 |
Abigail Clayton | ... | Rita (as Gail Lawrence) |
| Kelly Piper | ... | Nurse | |
| Rita Montone | ... | Hooker | |
| Tom Savini | ... | Disco Boy | |
|
|
Hyla Marrow | ... | Disco Girl |
| James L. Brewster | ... | Beach Boy (as James Brewster) | |
|
|
Linda Lee Walter | ... | Beach Girl |
|
|
Tracie Evans | ... | Street Hooker |
| Sharon Mitchell | ... | Second Nurse | |
| Carol Henry | ... | Deadbeat | |
|
|
Nelia Bacmeister | ... | Carmen Zito |
|
|
Louis Jawitz | ... | Art Director |
|
|
Denise Spagnuolo | ... | Denise |
Edit
Plot Summary
|
Plot Synopsis
See All (208) »
Storyline
Frank Zito misses his mother, who was killed in a car accident years before. She was abusive to him, and made money selling her body, but Frank still misses her. He tries to keep her from leaving him, and reform her evil ways, by killing young women and putting their scalps on mannequins which he displays around his apartment. Photographer Anna D'Antoni takes a picture of him in the park, and he pursues and befriends her. Is she the one he has been looking for or just another mother wannabe? Written by Ed Sutton <esutton@mindspring.com>
Plot Keywords:
grindhouse film | slasher | cult director | rotting corpse | cult film |Taglines:
It will tear the life out of you. See more »Parents Guide:
View content advisory »
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See more on IMDbPro »
See full technical specs »
Details
Country:
USALanguage:
EnglishRelease Date:
6 March 1981 (USA) See more »Also Known As:
Maníaco See more »Filming Locations:
Hotel St. James, 109 West 45th Street, Manhattan, New York City, New York, USA See more »Edit
Box Office
Budget:
$350,000 (estimated)Gross USA:
$6,000,000, 31 December 1981Company Credits
Show more on
IMDbPro »
Technical Specs
Runtime:
Sound Mix:
DolbyColor:
ColorAspect Ratio:
1.85 : 1
Edit
Anna D'Antoni: Well, it's just something I'm interested in, as a woman. In fact, this is my fourth series. It's called "Women Form". Not very original is it?
Frank Zito: Well, it's not the title that matters that much.
Anna D'Antoni: No, I guess not.
Frank Zito: Do you get to keep them all?
Anna D'Antoni: I'm hoping to sell them.
Frank Zito: I wouldn't. I'd keep them forever.
Anna D'Antoni: But why? Part of my profession is to sell photographs. It's not all for art's sake you know.
Frank Zito: I know, but why do you take pictures of women this way?
Anna D'Antoni: I like to make ...
[...]
See more »
Written by Leo Chiosso/Gigi Cichellero
Performed by Gino Bramieri
See more »
Did You Know?
Trivia
The scenes in Frank Zito's tiny apartment were inspired by the Swedish thriller Man on the Roof (1976) with the claustrophobic setting and the quiet and suttle tone with the sounds of a dripping faucet, a ticking clock, and occasional sound of traffic from outside. The color and crude decor of the apartment and other sets were inspired from the color-theme sets of Italian horror thrillers such as Deep Red (1975), Suspiria (1977), 6 donne per l'assassino (1964) and several others. See more »Goofs
When the prostitute is describing her services to Frank, she says "For 75, I'll take you around the world." But her mouth don't match what she's saying. See more »Quotes
Frank Zito: How come all your models are women?Anna D'Antoni: Well, it's just something I'm interested in, as a woman. In fact, this is my fourth series. It's called "Women Form". Not very original is it?
Frank Zito: Well, it's not the title that matters that much.
Anna D'Antoni: No, I guess not.
Frank Zito: Do you get to keep them all?
Anna D'Antoni: I'm hoping to sell them.
Frank Zito: I wouldn't. I'd keep them forever.
Anna D'Antoni: But why? Part of my profession is to sell photographs. It's not all for art's sake you know.
Frank Zito: I know, but why do you take pictures of women this way?
Anna D'Antoni: I like to make ...
[...]
See more »
Soundtracks
Non gettarmi la sabbia negli occhiWritten by Leo Chiosso/Gigi Cichellero
Performed by Gino Bramieri
See more »
Frequently Asked Questions
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"Maniac" is one of the most visceral examples of the horror genre.Along with Romano Scavolini's "Nightmare"(1981)it is one of the most disturbing horror films ever made.The killings presented here are cold-blooded,extremely brutal and gory."Maniac" in its almost pornographic depiction of violence makes any "Friday the 13th" film look tame.Joe Spinell is perfect as a maniac killer Frank Zito,who graphically murders and scalps his victims.Caroline Munro("Kronos","Slaughter High")is really hot as a young fashion photographer.The gore effects made by Tom Savini are simply spectacular-the head explosion scene has to be one of the most amazing moments in cinematic history.The amount of gore splashed in this sequence is incredible.The direction by William Lustig("Maniac Cop" series,"The Violation of Claudia")is well-handled,the acting is fairly convincing and the atmosphere is really ugly and disturbing.Definitely one to avoid if you're politically correct,but if you like confrontional stuff you can't miss it.10 out of 10.See it now!