Maniac (1980)

Country of Origin: USA
Year of Production: 1980
Running Times: 85 mins (USA - special edition)     87 mins (USA)
Format: colour     16mm (blown up to 35mm)
Ratio: 1.85:1
Sound: Dolby

PRODUCTION
Production Company: Magnum Motion Pictures Inc
Executive Producers: Judd Hamilton, Joe Spinell
Producers: Andrew W. Garroni, William Lustig

SCRIPT
Script: C.A. Rosenberg, Joe Spinell
Story: Joe Spinell

DIRECTION
Director: William Lustig

PHOTOGRAPHY
Director of Photography: Robert Lindsay

EDITING AND POST PRODUCTION
Editor: Lorenzo Marinelli

MUSIC
Music: Jay Chattaway

SPECIAL MAKE UP EFFECTS
Special Make Up Effects: Tom Savini, Rob Bottin

LOCATIONS
Locations: Brooklyn, New York City, New York, USA; Manhattan, New York City, New York, USA; New York City, New York, USA; Woodside, New York, USA

CAST
Joe Spinell (Frank Zito)
Caroline Munro (Anna D'Antoni)
Gail Lawrence (Rita)
Kelly Piper (nurse)
Rita Montone (hooker)
Tom Savini (disco boy)
Hyla Marrow (disco girl)
James Brewster (beach boy)
Linda Lee Walter (beach girl)
Tracie Evans (street hooker)
Sharon Mitchell (2nd nurse)
Carol Henry (deadbeat)
Nelia Bacmeister (Carmen Zito)
Louis Jawitz (art director)
Denise Spagnuolo (Denise)
Billy Spagnuolo (Billy)
Frank Pesce (TV reporter)
Candace Clements (1st park mother)
Diane Spagnuolo (2nd park mother)
Kim Hudson (lobby hooker)
Terry Gagnon (woman in alley)
Joan Baldwin (1st model)
Jeni Paz (2nd model)
Janelle Winston (waitress)
Randy Jurgensen (1st cop)
Jimmy Aurichio (2nd cop)
William Lustig (motel manager)

The mentally unbalanced Frank, still mourning the death of his mother in a car crash a few years ago, takes to scalping young women and dressing mannequins in his apartment with the bloody hair. When he meets photographer Anna in the park, it seems that she might be the one who can save him from himself - but is it too late for Frank?

A powerful and deeply disturbing slasher that rises above the rest of the early-80s slash pack by virtue of its sleazy ambience, unflinching brutality and an excellent central performance from Joe Spinell. The film is undeniably rough around the edges, but that just adds to its vicious charm. Savini's effects are almost unwatchably effective.

USA
Theatrical Distributor: Analysis Releasing
Video Distributor: Media Home Entertainment
Laserdisc Distributor: Elite (EE 1980 - includes: audio commentary on William Lustig, Tom Savini, Lorenzo Marinelli and Luke Walter; theatrical trailers; television spots; promotional footage for Maniac II; deleted scene)
DVD Distributor: Elite Entertainment (EE 1981 - includes: a commentray by William Lustig, Lorenzo Marinell, Luke Walter and Tom Savini; promotional short for Maniac II: Mister Robbie; deleted scene); Anchor Bay

Australia
Rating: R (theatrical version uncut; video release was trimmed of some of the violence)

Finland
Rating: K-16 (with heavy cuts)

France
Rating: -16

Norway
Rating: 18

UK
Rating: rejected for theatrical release in 1981 and for a video rating by the BBFC in 1998

USA
Rating: unrated

West Germany
Rating: banned

1980
December
5: USA - theatrical release

1981
July
23: UK - rejected by the BBFC (for theatrical release)

1982
March
9: France - theatrical release

1994
December
21: USA - laserdisc release (Elite (EE 1980))

1998
June
24: USA - DVD release (Elite Entertainment (EE 1981))

December
23: UK - rejected by the BBFC (for video release)

I warned you not to go out tonight

Maniac - nukkemurhaaja - Finnish title
Maniak - Polish title

SEE ALSO
Taxi Driver (1976)

FOOTAGE INCLUDED IN
100 Years of Horror (1996)
The American Nightmare (2000)
Bleeder (1999)
Kovat jätkät (1996)
Scream Greats Vol. 1 Tom Savini Master of Horror Make-up (1986)

BOOKS

Grande Illusions - A learn by example guide to the art and technique of special make-up effects from the films of Tom Savini by Tom Savini (Imagine Inc)

serial killers, slasher, slash and slash, splatter, gore, scalpings, mannequins, models, bathtubs, exploding heads, video nasties, cemeteries