“THE FILM LEAVES THE VIEWER FEELING VIOLATED AND ASHAMED” -tv guide magazine

“THE FILMMAKERS WANTED TO SHOW THE UGLY AND NASTY SIDE OF MURDER AND MANIAC DELIVERS”

-dr.gore reviews

“OFFERS A STRONG PERFORMANCE BY JOE SPINELL AND A STARK LOOK AT A NEW YORK CITY THAT NO LONGER EXISTS” -dvdtalk

Dark thriller director William Lustig (the director of RELENTLESS, the MANIAC COP TRILOGY and VIGILANTE) and co-writer / star Joe Spinell (best known for THE GODFATHER II, ROCKY, BRUBAKER and NIGHTSHIFT) collaborated to create a starkly real and unglamorous descent into the mind of a madman. Unhinged, haunted by schizophrenic visions and unable to control his grotesque need to victimize and murder, Frank Zito stalks the bleak crime ridden streets of New York in the early 1980s. He manages to catch the interest of a beautiful photographer in between his depraved acts of violence. He has not the capacity sustain a real relationship and it’s only a matter of time before he attacks her too unless the ghosts of his victims that torment his mind and the disfigured mannequins he surrounds himself with in his cramped shabby apartment claim him instead. Banned in countries around the world (it only became legal show in some territories within the last ten years), condemned by critics MANIAC is a bizarre and brutal film that doesn’t romanticize slasher films or murderers. The mind of a homicidal maniac isn’t portrayed as compelling or seductive; it’s repellent and ugly. That kind of vision is not for everyone but despite its unappealing lead role and subject matter, those with a strong stomach and an interest in being challenged by horror films occasionally will find much to dissect and talk about.

This DVD comes packed with special features including AUDIO COMMENTARY, DOCUMENTARY ABOUT STAR JOE SPINELL, RADIO INTERVIEW with star JOE SPINELL, director WILLIAM LUSTIG and costar CAROLINE MUNRO (beautiful genre and cult film favorite known for THE SPY WHO LOVED ME, THE GOLDEN VOYAGE OF SINBAD, CAPTAIN KRONOS VAMPIRE HUNTER and STARCRASH), POSTER AND STILL GALLERY, THEATRICAL TRAILERS, TV SPOTS, RADIO SPOTS, TALENT BIOS and a GALLERY OF OUTRAGE which features the negative responses in the to the film’s release.

This DVD is in great condition with only minor wear to the case and an excellent disc playing surface. It has been tested and plays perfectly. This auction ships GROUND ADVANTAGE and we offer a shipping discount / rebate for purchasing multiple items from our eBay store at once!