Maniac (2012) (Movie Review)
Directed By: Franck Khalfoun
Starring: Elijah Wood, America Olivo, Nora Arnezeder
Rated: UR
Just when the streets seemed safe, a serial killer with a fetish for scalps is back and on the hunt. Frank is the withdrawn owner of a mannequin store, but his life changes when young artist Anna appears asking for his help with her new exhibition. As their friendship develops and Frank’s obsession escalates, it becomes clear that she has unleashed a long-repressed compulsion to stalk and kill.
A remake is a slippery slope in cinema. It is extremely hard to balance out while has been done and adding something different, all the while keeping the right balance to keep the hardcore fans of said original movie you are remaking happy. That being said, the 2013 remake of Maniac might just do the job of doing everything right in a remake. The ending results is a film that isn’t just good or good for a remake, but good in general and one of the best horror films of the year. Not only does the movie remain true to the original Maniac and add new elements to it, the movie improves upon it and delivers an overall better film than the original. And, for anyone who was second guessing the casting of Elijah Wood, rest easy because he brings way more Kevin from Sin City than Froto from Lord of the Rings.
On top of the film just giving us an all-around better movie, it also gives us a very artistic film. The movie is more or less entirely seen through the eyes of Frank. This gives the director grounds to make some very creepy and creative film-making. The movie also comes loaded with an awesome soundtrack that truly works to capture the eerie feeling that the movie gives off. The right combo of music and imagery is a combo that is hard to come by in movies, especially horror movies these days. Here, we have a movie that just about does everything right that you’d have hoped for. If you are worried about seeing the remake of Maniac due to it being remake, then I ask that you give the movie a fair chance and see it. I can promise you that you won’t be disappointed. I also think it’s pretty cool that the movie is written in part by a man who gave us another remake that topped the original in Alexandre Aja.
