Mommy's boy

Maniac (1980)

This movie has a very bad reputation and I have no idea why. People tend to categorize it as just another ultra violent slasher or as an exploitative gore fest. Sure it is shockingly graphic in violence, but the main thing here is not the blood and guts, it's the killer himself. I see this as a psychological movie, kind of like a peek inside the head of a mad man. The man lives in a limbo, the pain drives him to kill, only to come back home feeling regret for what he did, that leads to more pain and the circle goes on. That's actually nothing new to slashers or serial killer movies, but this time the focus is solely on the man. The police or the usual opposing force of good is nothing but a glimpse on a TV screen. So Joe Spinelli, the actor portraying this monster has plenty of time to bring his character out. And he sure does it. One of the most convincing psychopat roles I've ever seen. And that's what this movie needed as it doesn't exactly shine out on other parts. It's made quite cheap and apart from the quite graphic effects everything has that poor quality printed on them. But it doesn't matter as the main point is delivered with a big punch. It's a nihilistic story about a monster of a man who is so repulsive it almost makes you sick, but still he is a human and that's scary as hell.
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