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?
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Title: Maniac (1980)
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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:
You can lock your windows and doors...But you can't lock the madman out of your mind. See more »Parents Guide:
View content advisory »
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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
Frank Zito: Now now now, it'll be alright. Look, it's just a little inconvenient.;I know how upsetting it is! But it's just a little blood. It'll wash out. Look, you have to be more careful. Yes. Getting very careless. Blood in your hair.
[smacks his lips]
Frank Zito: What will people say? What will we do? You want to look pretty, don't you? Pretty for me. You're so pretty.
See more »
Written by Matteo Chiosso (as Chiosso)/Gigi Cichellero (as Cichellero)
Performed by Gino Bramieri
See more »
Did You Know?
Trivia
According to director William Lustig, Italian horror director Dario Argento was supposed to be involved as co-producer because his wife at the time was originally offered the protagonist role but was unavailable. Also Lustig's original request for the music was to have Goblin, Argento's Italian rock metal band to the score the movie Maniac before using Jay Chattaway as a second choice. See more »Goofs
Vaguely reflected from the inside of the subway windows, when the nurse struggles to get into the subway to escape from Zito. See more »Quotes
Frank Zito: [to the nurse victim]Frank Zito: Now now now, it'll be alright. Look, it's just a little inconvenient.;I know how upsetting it is! But it's just a little blood. It'll wash out. Look, you have to be more careful. Yes. Getting very careless. Blood in your hair.
[smacks his lips]
Frank Zito: What will people say? What will we do? You want to look pretty, don't you? Pretty for me. You're so pretty.
See more »
Soundtracks
Non gettarmi la sabbia negli occhiWritten by Matteo Chiosso (as Chiosso)/Gigi Cichellero (as 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!