MovieChat Forums > Maniac (2013) Discussion > Finally, a remake worth watching.

Finally, a remake worth watching.

posted 9 years ago by Roger_Stoles
4 replies | jump to latest

Just watched this for the first time and I was pleasantly surprised. I was expecting a watered-down remake of an 80s classic (as so many of them are) and this was a worthy successor to the original. From the synth score, Taxi Driver-style sequences of cruising around rotten neighbourhoods, the bleak hopelessness of the main character, the director clearly gets Grindhouse.

I've practically given up on horror in the 2000s (not counting the real extreme stuff such as A Serbian Film etc), which is a sea of bland found footage, insipid remakes, countless zombies and dull ghosts, but this is a rare gem. It really does recapture the vibe of the likes of the original Maniac and Nightmares in a Damaged Brain, and the POV shots of someone losing their mind are extremely effective and unsettling.

Highly recommended.

[–] samgiannn 9 years ago

If you liked this, you'll love High Tension and Inside. Both are really gory slasher movies like this, and they're both from the 2000's.

[–] KillYourShadow 9 years ago

The soundtrack in this movie is so sick. Carried the movie for me in a lot of scenes.

Ignore the smoke.

[–] daughterofolaf 8 years ago

I agree that as remakes go this one is pretty good. It actually even improved one aspect of the plot over the original (if memory serves). Not bad at all.

"Your petty vengeance fetish will have to do withOUT Mr. Groin!"

[–] daughterofolaf 8 years ago

In fact, the more it sinks in, the better I feel it is. Excellent movie, remake or not. I don't think I can watch it again because of how gnarly it is but still, top notch stuff.

"Your petty vengeance fetish will have to do withOUT Mr. Groin!"