Synopsis:
Just when the streets seemed safe, a serial killer with a fetish for scalps is back and on the hunt. Frank (Elijah Wood) is the withdrawn owner of a mannequin store, but his life changes when young artist Anna (Nora Arnezeder) appears asking for his help with her new exhibition.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 21st century Jack the Ripper set in present day LA, Franck Khalfoun's Maniac is a re-boot of the William Lustig cult film considered by many to be the most suspensseful slasher movie ever made - an intimate, visually daring, psychologically complex and projoundly horrific trip into the downward spiralling nightmare of a killer and his victims. -- (C) IFC
Story:
As you can see on the synopsis above, the film follows Frank and the film really just told about which I really liked because it felt like we are having a glimpse at how this serial killer is having his day-to-day. We can see his struggles with himself and we can see how he kills his preys but what really made this story effective is the way it was shown. It was shown through a first-person view which in my opinion is one of the hardest things to accomplish (I will dig into this aspect later). Even though the story was very simple, it still felt a little flat and with little development to it.
Acting:
If you though he was scary in 'Sin City' then you won't be prepared at how he is terrifying in this film. TO me, he just showcased one of the most memorable performances on screen and he did it with little presence of his face, he did it with simply his voice as his presence, it was just so amazing and powerful he truly made this film good for what it was. I also liked the performance of the leading lady, and she was played by Nora Arnezeder. She was gorgeous and what a beaut to look at and what made me love her performance here was that she wasn't irritating. The rest of the cast had very little development to them and very limited screen time as this movie focuses more on the two leads.
Violence:
One of the most brutal films I've watched and quite possibly one of the most realist films I've ever seen. The violence is just so realistic you can find yourself cringing into it or probably closing your eyes, but the violence was a key aspect in this film because I just can't see any other way to see this other than R-18 or NC-17, if this was PG-13 of R-13, I probably would never given this one a chance.
Music:
This simply sets the mood and tone of the movie, it was haunting and can keep your pulse pounding even though you can probably predict what is about to happen next. It also helps Wood's character to have some more depth.
Cinematography:
As I said before, the movie was shot mostly in a first-person view and this movie executed that perfectly, I felt that I was Frank in this movie and the shots surrounding the character was handled pretty well as you can feel that you are in there with him or you are him (like what I said). The perspective and the angles of the shots were amazing and truly captures the beauty of it's production. There are also some scenes who was shot in a third-person view and it was also nothing short of amazing.
Direction:
This is the second film that I've watched from Franck Khalfoun and the first one being 'P2' and while I think that that was a creative horror, it just kinda sucked. Now I liked how he did the pacing in this movie because it didn't felt boring, in fact I thought it went by pretty fast, but my gripe here is the director lacks the depth of telling a wonderful story.
Overall:
'Maniac' is probably not the horror film you will expect it to be but it is a very effective thriller with a terrifying performance from the lead which showcases more from the actor. The story somehow felt flat and some of them wasn't told quite as good as some scenes but I liked this movie despite that problem. Now, even though I liked this movie the only grade that I can give this one is 3/5.
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