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Maniac

  • 19801980
  • RR
  • 1h 27m
IMDb RATING
6.4/10
19K
YOUR RATING
Maniac (1980)
Home Video Trailer from Anchor Bay Entertainment
Play trailer1:34
2 Videos
99+ Photos
CrimeDramaHorror
A psychopathic man goes on a killing and mutilation spree in New York City.A psychopathic man goes on a killing and mutilation spree in New York City.A psychopathic man goes on a killing and mutilation spree in New York City.
IMDb RATING
6.4/10
19K
YOUR RATING
    • William Lustig
    • C.A. Rosenberg(screenplay)
    • Joe Spinell(screenplay)
  • Stars
    • Joe Spinell
    • Caroline Munro
    • Abigail Clayton
    • William Lustig
    • C.A. Rosenberg(screenplay)
    • Joe Spinell(screenplay)
  • Stars
    • Joe Spinell
    • Caroline Munro
    • Abigail Clayton
  • See production, box office & company info
    • 242User reviews
    • 121Critic reviews
    • 22Metascore
  • See more at IMDbPro
    • Awards

    Videos2

    Maniac
    Trailer 1:33
    Watch Maniac
    Maniac (1980)
    Trailer 1:34
    Watch Maniac (1980)

    Photos122

    Maniac (1980)
    Maniac (1980)
    Maniac (1980)
    Abigail Clayton and Joe Spinell in Maniac (1980)
    Maniac (1980)
    Maniac (1980)
    Maniac (1980)
    Maniac (1980)
    Maniac (1980)
    Maniac (1980)
    Rita Montone and Joe Spinell in Maniac (1980)
    Abigail Clayton in Maniac (1980)

    Top cast

    Edit
    Joe Spinell
    Joe Spinell
    • Frank Zito
    Caroline Munro
    Caroline Munro
    • Anna D'Antoni
    Abigail Clayton
    • Rita
    • (as Gail Lawrence)
    Kelly Piper
    Kelly Piper
    • Nurse
    Rita Montone
    Rita Montone
    • Hooker
    Tom Savini
    Tom Savini
    • Disco Boy
    Hyla Marrow
    • Disco Girl
    James L. Brewster
    James L. Brewster
    • Beach Boy
    • (as James Brewster)
    Linda Lee Walter
    • Beach Girl
    Tracie Evans
    • Street Hooker
    Sharon Mitchell
    Sharon Mitchell
    • Second Nurse
    Carol Henry
    • Deadbeat
    Nelia Bacmeister
    • Carmen Zito
    Louis Jawitz
    • Art Director
    Denise Spagnuolo
    • Denise
    Billy Spagnuolo
    • Billy
    Frank Pesce
    Frank Pesce
    • T.V. Reporter
    • (voice)
    Candace Clements
    • First Park Mother
      • William Lustig
      • C.A. Rosenberg(screenplay)
      • Joe Spinell(screenplay) (story)
    • All cast & crew
    • Production, box office & more at IMDbPro

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    6.4
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    Storyline

    Edit

    Did you know

    Edit
    • Trivia
      William Lustig and Joe Spinell say they didn't always have the necessary permits to film on location in New York City. Certain scenes (including the infamous shotgun through the windshield scene) had to have been filmed quickly and afterwards the crew had to run away before the cops arrived.
    • Goofs
      The nurse is supposedly alone in the subway station, but during one shot (from inside the subway train as it pulls away) we can see several people walking about on the platform; they all disappear in the next shot.
    • Quotes

      Frank Zito: I told you not to go out tonight, didn't I? Every time you go out, this kind of thing happens.

    • Alternate versions
      The film was rejected for a cinema certificate in 1981 by the BBFC and also for a video rating in 1998. It was finally released in the UK on the Anchor Bay label in 2002 after receiving 58 secs of cuts to a prolonged strangulation scene and to a sexualized stabbing sequence.
    • Connections
      Edited from Inferno (1980)
    • Soundtracks
      Non gettarmi la sabbia negli occhi
      Written by Leo Chiosso/Gigi Cichellero

      Performed by Gino Bramieri

    User reviews242

    Review
    Review
    Featured review
    7/10
    Excellent make-up FX and claustrophobic atmosphere.
    I'd first like to applaud Tom Savini for his work here; MANIAC contains some of the most realistic and unrestrained gore fx I've seen; possibly THE best up until the time of its release. Anyone who says that horror film make-up men (and women) don't deserve to be called artists is an idiot. Here you get explicitly bloody murders and scalpings, plus a show-stopper head-being-blown-off-with-shotgun murder and a man being ripped apart nightmare and it all looks pretty damn convincing to me.

    Aside from the effects, director William Lustig does an OK job with color schemes (especially considering the budget) and the grimy, sleazy underbelly of New York is brilliantly exploited to give this film a truly nihilistic and seedy feel. The film itself, I thought, was scary, disturbing, intense and even suspenseful in parts (the subway sequence was especially well handled), which is how it should be. Reliable character actor Joe Spinell (from TAXI DRIVER, THE GODFATHER, etc.) also offers an effective performance as the sweaty, overweight, emotionally- scarred killer.

    On the down side, a plot would have been nice and it's unforgivable to waste British actress Caroline Munro on such a poorly scripted nothing role. Her beauty, charm and smile light up the screen and could have been better harnessed to counteract the ugliness on hand. Anyway, the film at least provokes some kind of reaction from its audience. Seeing a few of my squeamish female friends appalled and horrified by the film made it well worth the watch to me!
    helpful•36
    5
    • capkronos
    • Jul 10, 2002

    Horror Villains Through the Years

    Horror Villains Through the Years

    Even bad guys have to change their look from time to time. Check out the evolution of Hollywood's biggest villains through the years.
    See the gallery
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    Photos

    FAQ1

    • What are the differences between the Director's Cut and the Uncensored Version?

    Details

    Edit
    • Release date
      • March 6, 1981 (United States)
      • United States
      • English
    • Also known as
    • Filming locations
      • Hotel St. James, 109 West 45th St, Manhattan, New York City, New York, USA
    • Production company
      • Magnum Motion Pictures Inc.
    • See more company credits at IMDbPro

    Box office

    Edit
    See detailed box office info on IMDbPro

    Technical specs

    Edit
    • 1 hour 27 minutes
      • Color
      • Dolby Stereo
      • Dolby Atmos
      • Dolby Digital

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