IFWT #22 - Maniac (1980)

Back in 1980, a slasher film, released during the genre’s boom period, was released to scathing reviews, public outrage and widespread condemnation. That film was Maniac, starring late, great character actor Joe Spinell as Frank Zito. When he’s not cooped up in his apartment talking to a variety of mannequins, he’s prowling the street looking for blood. He hunts down women, kills them and removes their scalps. A deeply troubled individual obsessed with the ideas of control and possession, the ladies of New York City are gripped with fear, never knowing who his next victim will be. Reviled upon release but now regarded as a cult classic, we take a look at a film that was so outrageous in its day that even the poster was banned, and try to break down the psychology of it’s lead, explore his motivations, and ponder the truly terrifying concept of a serial killer who so seamlessly blends into the societal background.