DVD Review - i-Lived (2015)

Frodo Wants You To Watch The Precious, New UK Maniac Trailer

In 2001 Elijah Wood started on the long road to destroy the precious 12 years on Frodo does seem have eyes on the precious but its not the one ring to rule them all but woman's scalps, behold the UK trailer for Maniac.

Franck Khalfoun directs remake  of the 1981 William Lustig cult horror classic which sees Wood give up his big hairy hobbit feet for a knife to play Frank a disturbed Mannequin shop owner whose life was controlled and destroyed by his abusive mother. Thanks to that upbringing he finds himself killing women for their scalps!

If your a fan of  co-writer Alexander Aja's films you will certainly enjoy the style and gore of Maniac. The film seems to be a homage to the slasher films of the era with camera shots, lighting even the synth style score given the film an extra dimension of dread and authenticity. The previous trailers have fallen into the 'let's reveal all the film in the trailer' category thankfully UK trailer doesn't spoil the broth but focuses on Frank's psychotic side.

Elijah Wood has proven with Sin City he can play the disturbed unnerving parts  but can say Maniac will be his darkest most unsettling role to date. Maniac has been released in some non-English speaking parts of the world receiving mixed reviews thankfully the film is creeping into English speaking areas delivering more positive reviews and Maniac looking like a solid noir-esque remake.Whatever you do ladies don't fall for those big innocent eyes of Frodo Baggins as it'll be the last eyes you see!

Maniac will be released in UK on 15th March, no USA date confirmed but expect it later this year. The film also co-stars America Olivo and Nora Arnezeder

Synopsis:

Just when the downtown Los Angeles streets seemed safe, a serial killer with a fetish for scalps is back 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 Frank is the withdrawn owner of a mannequin store, but his life changes when young artist Anna appears asking for his help with her new photo exhibition. As their friendship develops and Frank’s obsession escalates, it becomes clear she has unleashed a long-repressed compulsion to stalk and kill.

source:Thepeoplesmovies

Frightfest 2012:Maniac Review

After helming remakes of The Hills Have Eyes and Piranha, the gang behind the “trapped in a parking lot with a psycho” film P2 reunite for yet another remake of a 70s horror movie, this time the notorious video nasty starring Joe Spinell and directed by William Lustig - Maniac. Only this time it’s Frodo’s turn to go on a homicidal trip! Yes, everyone’s favourite hobbit Elijah Wood steps into the shoes of Joe Spinell as the deranged Frank, owner of a quasi-abandoned mannequin store and all-round creepy dude who, to the outside world, seems like a typical loner. However Frank has issues, lots of them – migraines, hallucinations, strange OCD-like compulsions – this is a man who is for all intents and purposes completely deranged. Stepping into Franks world is Anna (Arnezeder) a French photographer who wants to use Frank’s restored mannequins as part of her fine arts exhibit… As sleazy as the film that inspired it, this iteration of Maniac takes the story and key set pieces from the original (minus the stunning shotgun death) and re-locates the action to Los Angeles, with the cities seedy back alleys and unkept streets as a backdrop for Frank’s exploits. And whilst the core idea of Frank scalping his victims remains the same and is just as graphic as William Lustig film, director Franck Khalfoun adds a first person perspective to the action which is not only a bold choice and a superb technical achievement, but it’s also one that makes this version of Maniac much much troubling than the original. Whereas 1980′s Maniac had a chubby, pot-marked, sleazeball as a lead, this version has Elijah Wood who makes for a much more convincing “love interest” for Anna. However the real star of the film is the audience. By shooting the film from Frank’s POV and only showing the character in reflections, Khalfoun makes the audience identify with Frank and make them complicit in his crimes. Which is bound to disturb some, and (wrongly) excite others; and unlike many modern horrors, the film lingers on the violence a la Fulci’s The New York Ripper – hence the rumoured four minutes of cuts to the film for the official UK release. However despite the technical innovation and the stylish Drive-like soundtrack, Maniac still feels very much like it’s treading the same water as the original, offering nothing new beyond the POV format and in the end left me feeling nothing but ambivalence towards it… This was a review by Phil From Blogomatic 3000 Rating:18 Release Date: 26th August 2012 (Frightfest) Directed by:Franck Khalfoun Cast:Elijah Wood, Nora Arnezeder, Liane Balaban, America Olivo