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Maniac (1980) 6.5
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? Director:William Lustig |
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Title: Maniac (1980)
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1 nomination.
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Cast
| Cast overview, first billed only: | |||
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Joe Spinell | ... | |
| Caroline Munro | ... | ||
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Abigail Clayton | ... |
Rita
(as Gail Lawrence)
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Kelly Piper | ... |
Nurse
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Rita Montone | ... |
Hooker
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| Tom Savini | ... |
Disco Boy
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Hyla Marrow | ... |
Disco Girl
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| James L. Brewster | ... |
Beach Boy
(as James Brewster)
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Linda Lee Walter | ... |
Beach Girl
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Tracie Evans | ... |
Street Hooker
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| Sharon Mitchell | ... |
Second Nurse
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Carol Henry | ... |
Deadbeat
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Nelia Bacmeister | ... | |
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Louis Jawitz | ... |
Art Director
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Denise Spagnuolo | ... |
Denise
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Plot Summary
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Plot Synopsis
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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 | psychotronic film | cult director | cult film | grindhouse |Taglines:
You can lock your windows and doors...But you can't lock the madman out of your mind. See more »Parents Guide:
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Details
Country:
USALanguage:
EnglishRelease Date:
6 March 1981 (USA) See more »Also Known As:
Maníaco See more »Box Office
Budget:
$350,000 (estimated)Company Credits
Show detailed
company contact information
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 Matteo Chiosso (as Chiosso)/Gigi Cichellero (as Cichellero)
Performed by Gino Bramieri
See more »
Did You Know?
Trivia
The film's distributor had a unique campaign to support its release in New York: mini-screen kiosks were set up in front of theatres that were showing the film in 1980 that had several minutes of un-cut footage, including gory murders. However, the campaign backfired when Gene Siskel condemned it on both his regular TV reporting and "At The Movies", leading to a backlash against the film's violence and the cancellation of plans to have the kiosks used in such major markets as Chicago and Los Angeles. See more »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. 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 Matteo Chiosso (as Chiosso)/Gigi Cichellero (as Cichellero)
Performed by Gino Bramieri
See more »
"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!