Horror
France,United States of America
Maniac is a 2012 horror film directed by Franck Khalfoun and written by Alexandre Aja and Grégory Levasseur. The film stars Elijah Wood as Frank Zito, the owner of a mannequin shop who suffers from hallucinations and a severe case of mommy issues. He develops an unhealthy obsession with a young artist named Anna D'Antoni (Nora Arnezeder), whose upcoming exhibition he is helping to prepare. As Frank becomes more emotionally unstable, his violent and sexual desires begin to take over, leading him to stalk and murder young women in increasingly gruesome ways.
Shot from the perspective of Frank, the film uses a first-person POV style to immerse the audience in his delusional world. The camera serves as Frank's eyes, following him as he prowls the dark streets of Los Angeles, looking for his next victim. The film is also notable for its use of practical gore effects, which add to the visceral nature of the violence.
As Frank's psyche unravels, the audience is left to question whether his behavior is a result of his troubled childhood or if he is simply a psychopath. Meanwhile, Anna becomes increasingly suspicious of Frank's behavior, leading to a tense climax where the two characters confront each other in a brutal showdown.
Overall, Maniac is a disturbing and intense film that is not recommended for the squeamish or faint of heart. Elijah Wood's performance as Frank is particularly noteworthy, as he manages to make the character both sympathetic and terrifying at the same time.
