I haven’t seen this man twists since the Chubby Checker Twist Off of ’99!
Maniac on the Loose (2008)
Directed By: Steve Hudgins (Goatsucker)
The Prologue
Big Biting Pig Productions huh? Anyone out there heard of it?? Well in the world of independent films you just never know what you’re going to get when you set down to watch something. One name tends to blend into another here, one camera angel looks the same as the next there, but something about Steve Hudgins movie Maniac on the Loose was just…different?
Forget the old saying that low budget films are all the same my friends because I think I have lucked up and found the new standard for independent horror films!
And no..I’m not joking!
The Movie
A patient described as “Extremely Dangerous” has escaped from the local psychiatric hospital. Fearing that he’ll lose his job if word gets out, the head of the hospital, Dr. Franklin Grimm, desperately attempts to cover up the escape. Meanwhile, there is a Maniac on the Loose.
Maniac on the Loose may look in appearance like just another independent film but the comparisons stop there. It’s not acted like any other independent film and it sure isn’t written like one. The only real fault most of you might find with it at all is that it seems to cross over more to the thriller sides of things than it does horror..but I don’t really think you’ll care.
The story seems simple my friends ut trust me it’s far from it. The movie jumps back and forth between time frames. You see things one way, then you go back and see them another, I love this way of filming and I really love this movie. You have suspense, you have blood, you have cringe worthy moments, and you even have some comedy mixed in just to level everything out. Rest a sure writer, director, and actor Steve Hugins knows what he is doing and he knows how to do it in order to make it all work.
A lot of times in lower budget films the acting is called into question and I can’t find a thing wrong with anyone acting in this film..It amazed even me. To Steve Hugins playing the role of Max to Nick Faust playing the HIGHLY entertaining Dr. Franklin Grimm, everyone major and in-between holds their own and holds it well.
It’s got some pretty shocking stuff in it as well that is a bit hard to watch but it just adds to the over all environment of the movie. At times you’re going to think you have it all figured out,..wrong..there’s a lot of things you’ll never see coming. Take my word on it folks, it shines a light on the name of independent films, and the twist will keep your head spinning..in a good way.
The Conclusion
I got to hand it to these guys I am shocked. I had heard about I had heard about Big Biting Pig Productions but I never figured it would be this well made and it’s for sure a film I recommend.
Most the time I say a film is worth a watch, this one is work more than just one, trust me on that.
The Rating (8/10)
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