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Maniac

  • 19801980
  • RR
  • 1h 27m
IMDb RATING
6.4/10
17K
YOUR RATING
  • Cast & crew
  • User reviews
  • Trivia
  • IMDbPro
Maniac (1980)
Home Video Trailer from Anchor Bay Entertainment
Play trailer1:34
2 Videos
99+ Photos
  • Crime
  • Drama
  • Horror

A psychopathic man goes on a killing and mutilation spree in New York City.A psychopathic man goes on a killing and mutilation spree in New York City.A psychopathic man goes on a killing and mutilation spree in New York City.

IMDb RATING
6.4/10
17K
YOUR RATING
  • Director
    • William Lustig
  • Writers
    • C.A. Rosenberg(screenplay)
    • Joe Spinell(screenplay)
  • Stars
    • Joe Spinell
    • Caroline Munro
    • Abigail Clayton
Top credits
  • Director
    • William Lustig
  • Writers
    • C.A. Rosenberg(screenplay)
    • Joe Spinell(screenplay)
  • Stars
    • Joe Spinell
    • Caroline Munro
    • Abigail Clayton
  • See production, box office & company info
    • 238User reviews
    • 170Critic reviews
    • 22Metascore
  • See more at IMDbPro
    • Awards
      • 1 nomination

    Videos2

    Maniac
    Trailer 1:33
    Maniac
    Maniac (1980)
    Trailer 1:34
    Maniac (1980)

    Photos120

    Maniac (1980)
    Maniac (1980)
    Maniac (1980)
    Abigail Clayton and Joe Spinell in Maniac (1980)
    Maniac (1980)
    Maniac (1980)
    Maniac (1980)
    Maniac (1980)
    Maniac (1980)
    Maniac (1980)
    Abigail Clayton in Maniac (1980)
    Joe Spinell in Maniac (1980)

    Top cast

    Edit
    Joe Spinell
    Joe Spinell
    • Frank Zitoas Frank Zito
    Caroline Munro
    Caroline Munro
    • Anna D'Antonias Anna D'Antoni
    Abigail Clayton
    • Ritaas Rita
    Kelly Piper
    Kelly Piper
    • Nurseas Nurse
    Rita Montone
    Rita Montone
    • Hookeras Hooker
    Tom Savini
    Tom Savini
    • Disco Boyas Disco Boy
    Hyla Marrow
    • Disco Girlas Disco Girl
    James L. Brewster
    James L. Brewster
    • Beach Boyas Beach Boy
    • (as James Brewster)
    Linda Lee Walter
    • Beach Girlas Beach Girl
    Tracie Evans
    • Street Hookeras Street Hooker
    Sharon Mitchell
    Sharon Mitchell
    • Second Nurseas Second Nurse
    Carol Henry
    • Deadbeatas Deadbeat
    Nelia Bacmeister
    • Carmen Zitoas Carmen Zito
    Louis Jawitz
    • Art Directoras Art Director
    Denise Spagnuolo
    • Deniseas Denise
    Billy Spagnuolo
    • Billyas Billy
    Frank Pesce
    Frank Pesce
    • T.V. Reporteras T.V. Reporter
    • (voice)
    Candace Clements
    • First Park Motheras First Park Mother
    • Director
      • William Lustig
    • Writers
      • C.A. Rosenberg(screenplay)
      • Joe Spinell(screenplay) (story)
    • Production, box office & more at IMDbPro
    • All cast & crew

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    Storyline

    Edit
    Frank Zito misses his mother, who was killed in a car accident years before. She was abusive to him, and made money selling her body, but Frank still misses her. He tries to keep her from leaving him, and reform her evil ways, by killing young women and putting their scalps on mannequins which he displays around his apartment. Photographer Anna D'Antoni takes a picture of him in the park, and he pursues and befriends her. Is she the one he has been looking for or just another mother wannabe? —Ed Sutton <esutton@mindspring.com>
    • serial killer
    • weirdo
    • psychotronic film
    • grindhouse film
    • slasher
    • 254 more
    • Plot summary
    • Plot synopsis
    • Taglines
      • Run from this man!
    • Genres
      • Crime
      • Drama
      • Horror
      • Thriller
    • Certificate
      • R
    • Parents guide

    Did you know

    Edit
    • Trivia
      William Lustig and Joe Spinell say they didn't always have the necessary permits to film on location in New York City. Certain scenes (including the infamous shotgun through the windshield scene) had to have been filmed quickly and afterwards the crew had to run away before the cops arrived.
    • Goofs
      The nurse is supposedly alone in the subway station, but during one shot (from inside the subway train as it pulls away) we can see several people walking about on the platform; they all disappear in the next shot.
    • Quotes

      Frank Zito: I told you not to go out tonight, didn't I? Every time you go out, this kind of thing happens.

    • Alternate versions
      The film was rejected for a cinema certificate in 1981 by the BBFC and also for a video rating in 1998. It was finally released in the UK on the Anchor Bay label in 2002 after receiving 58 secs of cuts to a prolonged strangulation scene and to a sexualized stabbing sequence.
    • Connections
      Edited from Inferno (1980)
    • Soundtracks
      Non gettarmi la sabbia negli occhi
      Written by Leo Chiosso/Gigi Cichellero

      Performed by Gino Bramieri

    User reviews238

    Review
    Top review
    6/10
    creepy little NY film
    Okay, first of all this movie was shot in New York and there's something I find fascinating about the look of films shot in NY in the 70's or 80's. The movie itself is decent but not great. It has a good look and feel to it and I like Joe Spinell in it. Joe plays Frank, a photographer, who misses his dead mother despite being mistreated by her as a child. He begins killing women at night and keeping parts from the bodies. I however didn't find the relationship he had with the model he stalked all too believable. It has some good scenes and is still a good watch for slasher fans and fans like me of gritty New York City in the 70's and 80's.
    helpful•9
    1
    • PaulyC
    • Jan 18, 2008

    FAQ1

    • What are the differences between the Director's Cut and the Uncensored Version?

    Details

    Edit
    • Release date
      • March 6, 1981 (United States)
    • Country of origin
      • United States
    • Language
      • English
    • Also known as
      • Manijak
    • Filming locations
      • Hotel St. James, 109 West 45th Street, Manhattan, New York City, New York, USA
    • Production company
      • Magnum Motion Pictures Inc.
    • See more company credits at IMDbPro

    Box office

    Edit
    • Budget
      • $350,000 (estimated)
    See detailed box office info on IMDbPro

    Technical specs

    Edit
    • Runtime
      1 hour 27 minutes
    • Color
      • Color
    • Sound mix
      • Dolby Stereo
      • Dolby Atmos
      • Dolby Digital
    • Aspect ratio
      • 1.85 : 1

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