The original 1980 film Maniac has already appeared on the list. I prefer this remake which makes some interesting stylistic choices including having Elijah Wood as a more mysterious version of the main character. I think the data prefers the original because it’s built up more of a cult and had more years of exposure, but I expect to be proven right in time.
Similar to Angst, everything is stripped down to the basics (much like the title itself.) Elijah Wood plays a mannequin builder with deeply unsuppressed mommy issues that release themselves in graphic homicides which include scalping trophies to decorate his apartment with. You wonder how such a person made it this far in life, but the film doesn’t bother to chart the course from damaged goods into casual murderer. It enters deep into this killer’s spree and puts you right into his mindset… literally.
Maniac is largely shot in first person point-of-view, but not in a strict style like Hardcore Harry. The filmmaking is smart about using edits to jump ahead in time, or warp the frame using effects in a way that simulates Wood’s feelings of not being in control of his actions. Sometimes, the camera jumps outside completely, looking at a killer disconnected from what he is doing. The effect doesn’t come off as a cheat or as showing off and it shows director Franck Khalfoun clearly understands the material. The effects are definitely serving the story here, and it creates a film you want to talk about afterwards, especially in terms of the way you are made to partake in the violence.
While the simplicity is a major asset, it’s also a bit of a liability. I wish the characters went a little deeper. They hit a certain point and then just hang there until the end. Still, this is one of Horror’s more memorable experiences and worth a look if you can handle the extreme side of the genre.
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