Rating: 
Summary: Great original storyline and special effects
Review: If unrelenting scenes of carnage, compliments of a psychotic sexual deviant is your cup of tea, then this movie is for you. The late Joe Spinell does an excellent job as our deeply disturbed title character, and the special FX are convincing even by today's standards. The shotgun scene left me speechless and is a MUST for all lovers of blood & gore. The ending was kind of strange, But unlike Jason or Freddie, there are actually people like this out there. This movie ranks in the top 5 most gorriest films I've seen. And as with all movies I recommend, Make sure you have the widescreen, unedited director's cut or you will miss some scenes.
Rating: 
Summary: Not nearly as bad as most critics would say
Review: Joe Spinell's performance is what makes this movie. His acting is excellent and brings great emotion to the sick character of Frank Zito. So much emotion that one cannot help but sometimes empathize with his raging pain. This movie is well directed and is worth seeing for (though predictable), the subway scene alone. Do not believe what you've read about the gore effects. They are not impressive at all. The razor blade deaths look incredibly fake. But Maniac is not the mysoginist slasher flick in which it advertises itself. It is a well made character study about a disturbed, suffering man.
Rating:
Summary: maybe i'm just too bloodthirsty
Review: After reading a few reviews expressing umbrage at this film's graphic violence, I thought I'd give it a shot, especially since I'm doing some reading on serial killers at the moment.The atmosphere of MANIAC is generally evocative (which is why I give it three stars), but the violence is revolting only in a few isolated moments, rather as it is in the GODFATHER movies. So why all the controversy? I was prepared to make a run for the toilet and lose my cookies. I'm wondering: Did I get a censored print of MANIAC? The box says it's Rated R, but the previews at the end of the tape make it clear that it was originally released as the equivalent of our NC-17. Bubba
Rating: 
Summary: Sleazy, vicious classic
Review: Low-budget horror films don't get any better than this! The use of unknown actors and sleazy NYC locations provides a raw, almost documentary feel. Joe Spinell is unforgettably creepy as the overweight killer. However, this movie is probably only for the most hardened viewers. If you like it, also check out William Friedkin's film "CRUISING" (1980). Plans for MANIAC 2 were scrapped after Joe Spinell's death in 1991.
Rating:
Summary: EXCELLENT HORROR/GORE FILM
Review: I loved this movie! I had seen it when I was younger, and thought it was very scary and gory then, and then I purchased it recently from Amazon, and loved it even more the second time! I highly recommend this film to anyone who loves gory/very scary movies! Just one question, on the video I purchased at the end of the movie they had a preview for a Maniac Part 2 (Mr. Robbie), but I can't seem to find it anywhere, can anyone help me???!!!! I want that movie!
Rating:
Summary: a very muddled storyline, but great FX.
Review: The story-co-written by main character Spinell- makes little sense, but you might want to check this out just to see Tom Savini's excellent gore FX- with Savini himself getting bumped off in one of the most brutal scenes you're ever likely to come across.
Rating:
Summary: A must see for slasher movie fans
Review: If you like the Freddy & Jason movies you might like this. From the Director of "Maniac Cop" William Lustig brings you a story about a deranged serial killer "Joe Spinnel" who happens to not only kill females, but also scalps them, and nails the scalps on top of his femail maniquin heads.
Rating:
Summary: the granddaddy of all slasher films!
Review: If you want the best in no holds barred slasher movies,this is it! The late Joe Spinell gave his most intense performance a as lone serial killer searching out women and then cutting off....well I don't want to give away too much. This is definitely a must for any collector of horror/slasher flicks. A classic!
Rating:
Summary: it's great!
Review: i love this film because it's very gore and i love gore films
Rating: 
Summary: don't believe the hype
Review: I'm sorry, but this IS just another 80's slasher flick. There is nothing outstanding about Maniac - nothing that elevates it or distinguishes it from all the other films of this type to come out during this decade. I simply do not understand the reverence felt by many horror fans for this silly, low-budget schlock. I know I will get slammed with non-helpful votes from people who have already seen it and like it, (in which case I don't see how my review could be helpful or otherwise...) but I hope to possibly dissuade others from making the same mistake I did by purchasing this movie. Joe Spinell plays Frank Zito, our whining, groaning, grunting maniac. His Mommy locked him in a closet a lot when he was a child and turned him into a self-hating misogynist - well, that and a homicidal schizophrenic. Frank scalps his victims and uses these scalps as wigs for his beloved mannequins. That's the premise. There is also a lazy attempt at a story involving a beautiful photographer who I suppose represents redemption? Rehabilitation? A last chance for the violent schizo to rejoin civilized society? The script is pretty awful and it's interpretation by the actors does not help matters. Spinell's performance is hokey and self-conscious. However, contrasted with his supporting cast (I think the mannequines gave better performances than Caroline Munroe) he is friggin Olivier. The scene in which Zito stalks and kills the nurse is the most effective sequence in the film. However, it is nearly ruined by completely unnecessary and ridiculous over-dubbing. Whatever the problems with live sound might have been, silence would have worked better. This superfluous dubbing of grunts, gasps, whimpers and heavy breathing does not add to, but rather negates completely, the desired effect of suspense and dread. The same goes for the voiceover (in lieu of flashback) that explains the abuse Frank suffered from his mother: Little Frank (played by worst child actor in the world): "No Mommy, please. Please don't lock me in the closet." Mommy (played by worst actress in the history of theatre): "You must be punished. You have been bad again." Little Frank: "No Mommy, please. Please, please don't lock me in the closet. Please. Mommy: "You must be punished. You have been bad..." and on and on and on. There are other embarrassing moments in the film, but this one is special. Tom Savini's effects are very good, although the movie is not nearly as gory as I expected it to be. Some of the shots of the mannequines at the end are nice. But overall, the gritty, nasty feel that was so obviously desired was sabotaged by a bad script and bad acting. Great acting is not essential for a good low-budget movie. But if the acting is bad, then your script must be fantastic, or your premise, or your visuals, or something. There is some good gore here. That's about it. If you want to see a dark, gritty, and excellent movie about a serial killer, rent or buy Henry: Portrait of a Serial Killer. Abel Ferrara's Driller Killer is not bad either.
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