Franck
Khalfoun’s Maniac stays true to the
narrative of the original 1980 cult horror film which it is remaking, but I’m
not certain that this was a selling point for me. The original had the make-up
guru Tom Savini attached as both performer and creator of the more convincingly
bloody aspects of the film, but it was still a movie many called depraved
rather than a classic. Roger Ebert walked out of a screening after one of the more infamously graphic sequences. Just the same, I
will review this remake as a stand-alone film. This also does not ensure any
positive feedback, however, but not because of the film’s graphic nature.
Violence is entirely acceptable tool if it has a purpose or some kind of
statement, but it seems a pointless venture in stylistic violence in Franck
Khalfoun’s Maniac.
Shot almost
entirely from the point-of-view of the killer, a pathetic mannequin restorer
named Frank (Elijah Wood), Maniac forces the audience to participate in the
murders. In my review of the anniversary Halloween Blu-ray release, I discuss
the brilliant use of POV to force the audience's participation in the film’s
opening murder. Maniac over-uses this effect, essentially allowing for Wood to
spend a minimized amount of time onscreen despite constant voice-over, but the
biggest issue is the contradictory effect it seems to have on the narrative. We
are placed in his point-of-view to see what the killer is seeing, but the
narrative never allows for an understanding of his motivations. The camera may
be in the place of Frank’s eyes, but the audience is never allowed into his
head.
What we are left
with are a series of gruesome murders without clear explanation. Frank has a
penchant for scalping his victims, to use on his mannequins in the privacy of
his home behind the restoration shop. When an attractive photographer named
Anna becomes intrigued by the mannequins and wants to use them for her latest
art project, Frank is pushed to new levels of destructive behavior. Unfortunately, this bloody climax is inevitable
and drearily approached, despite constant graphic violence throughout the film.
The Blu-ray includes
a making-of documentary, deleted scenes and a poster gallery for the film, but
the highlight is the commentary track with Wood, Khalfoun and executive
producer Alix Taylor. The special features are adequate enough for a lower
budget film such as this. Everything about the disc release is fine, though it
happens to be for a film which I can’t imagine recommending to anyone. This
film is liked induced insanity, and the best thing that can be said is that it
ends when you press the stop button.
Entertainment Value:
4/10
Quality of
Filmmaking: 6/10
Historical
Significance: 3/10
Disc Features: 7/10
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