MovieChat Forums > Maniac (2013) Discussion > Who loved this?

Who loved this?

posted 11 years ago by kruegerfan97
57 replies | jump to latest

After at all the criticism I'm seeing on the boards, are there ANY people who not liked "Maniac", but loved it. I did and I stand by saying it's one of the best horror films in recent years, next to "The Conjuring", "Insidious" and "The Loved Ones". No wonder we get so many *beep* sequels and redundant remakes (and yes, I know "Maniac" is a remake, but a very necessary one). Because we complain about everything and see a well-made and widely original film even if it's right in front of our faces.

[–] EliHayes 11 years ago

Honestly, it's probably my absolute favorite horror film. I loved it!
I also loved the Conjuring, Insidious, and the Loved Ones, so it seems we have very similar taste in horror films.
Other favorites of mine include Pulse/Kairo (2001), Antichrist (2009), You're Next (2011), Absentia (2011), The Descent (2005), Irreversible (2002), Them/Ils (2006), May (2002), The Cabin in the Woods (2012), Drag Me to Hell (2009) - the previous three I consider to be comedy/horror - as well as Martyrs (2008), Bug (2006), and the Pact (2012).

[–] 11 years ago

[deleted]

[–] EliHayes 11 years ago

Been meaning to see it ever since it went Criterion.

[–] mercury4 11 years ago

I don't know if I'd say I loved it, but I liked it. It was well made, the cinematography was great, and it was a good updated remake to the original, which I liked. There were some weak points. Sometimes I thought Elijah Wood sounded fake, but he had some good moments. Sometimes I thought the script and lines could've been better. There was one scene of graphic violence I was against, but for the most part, the movie wasn't nearly as violent as a lot of disgusting horror movies I've seen. It wasn't torture porn. Let's put it that way. It was an interesting movie. The movie's job is to get you in the mind of a Maniac and I think they pulled it off. The POV really helped. The original pulled it off too, but in their own way. A good remake and a good movie. But not for everyone. Don't complain about the violence because you've been warned. This is about a homicidal "maniac."

I didn't see the movie as a horror movie. I saw it as a psychological thriller or maybe even a tragedy. It was scary because it was about something that could really happen and someone that could really exist. I thought the movie was kind of depressing. This guy is totally gone. He's beyond help. He meets a girl he falls for and wants a normal life, but it can never be. He's too far-gone. He's too scarred and there is no way out for him. To me, if you put yourself in the title character's shoes, that's the most horrific thing I can think of.

[–] AnUnkindnessOfRavens 11 years ago

I see that we also have a very similar taste in horror films and due to this fact i would highly recommend you to check out Excision (2012). ;)

[–] EliHayes 11 years ago

Excision is so good, one of the best films of 2012.

[–] Evil_Fred 11 years ago

i absolutely loved it.Was addicted to the soundtrack for like a month...haha Superior to the original, an thats quite rare for a remake.

[–] Tish418 10 years ago

We have an extremely similar taste in horror, I also loved this.

I haven't seen Bug, Absentia or The Pact, going to check them out now!

-We've survived yet again-
-We've lost yet again-

[–] EliHayes 10 years ago

Oh yes, please do... and then return to this thread and let me know what you think, if you would!? Absentia and The Pact are both really good examples of very low budget horror. Bug contains two of the greatest performances I've ever seen in a psychological drama.

[–] bedlam75 10 years ago

Wow, there's not even one movie on the list from the 1900's? There has been several great horror movies in the last decade but the best were made before the nineties.

I thought the remake of Maniac was ok, but the original is of course way better.

[–] EliHayes 10 years ago

I prefer the remake (though I rarely prefer remakes when it comes to horror films, and I love a ton of old horror films as well; I was just listing contemporary horror films to keep it relevant to the the remake. I greatest of all serial killer films, to me, are probably Angst, the German film, and Henry: Portrait of a Serial Killer. Man Bites Dog is pretty great too but that's... quite a bit different, haha.

[–] HeadSpace95 11 years ago

I normally stay away from the horror genre especially Gory films,
But this was so smartly shot & all the supporting cast was great as well as the extras. Elijah wood was brilliant from the POV view,
This reminded me alot of Enter the Void & I hope to see more and more films done in the same style!

[–] fidgette 11 years ago

I never saw the original but have heard all the classic quotes from my bf. I enjoyed this movie.

But can I ask since the OP mentioned it. Why do people like Insidious??

[–] divisionbell-2 11 years ago

You know I really liked the first half of insidious but I thought the second half just fell apart.

[–] divisionbell-2 11 years ago

I thought this movie was incredible. I don't get all of the hate I've read about this one. This was horror art.

[–] mercury4 11 years ago

I liked how they had that shot in the movie to pay homage to the original movie's poster. That was a nice touch. I was hoping Elijah Wood was going to say the famous line from the original when Frank Zito says, "I warned you not to go out tonight." He didn't though. They didn't have the shotgun blast either. I was hoping there would be a deleted scene or something included on DVD. The opening to the original Maniac was pretty good when Frank went after that couple on the beach. It was a great way to open the movie and set the tone. Just before the opening credits to the original, Frank wakes up screaming and then crying. You can tell right off the bat that the guy is really messed up and you feel sorry for him.

[–] ohwellokay 11 years ago

I thought it was pretty good, although it was missing something I can't quite put my finger on that kept me from loving it.

I wouldn't worry about the criticism. There is literally not a single horror movie board on this site that isn't full of trolls and haters.

[–] milesaugust 11 years ago

Loved it! A fan of the original, i do hate most remakes, not just because, but because many are plain horrible, but I absolutely loved this. Starightforward, took itself seriously, dark, uncompromisingly brutal, excellent acting from Elijah Wood, (now that i started watching Wilfred, it seems like this would be that characters next step), as well as everyone else involved. I was skeptical at first when I heard it was POV style, but it worked, especially the instances when it pulled away for a bit. The cinematography, considering the context, had no distracting, obnoxious, and unnecessary shaky cam, like too many recent films that don't even have a context to back it up. Of all the remakes of 70's and 80's horror, I'd say this one is the best, and it's a shame it didn't get a bigger release. If Hatchet 2 and I Spit on your Grave could make it into national theaters unrated, not just a few in NY and LA, this one should have too.

[–] RicciRules 11 years ago

Wood was terrible.
Dialog was terrible.
POV shots were annoying and not needed.
Other than that...........average at best.

[–] BrokenMirrorsbrokenMinds 11 years ago

I loved it!!

This has been a great year for horror so far. The Conjuring, You're Next, Maniac. I'm in heaven.

You're Welcome.

[–] marktarnovetsky 10 years ago

no.

[–] zinabaggins 11 years ago

I loved it! This is called horror art. The Conjuring was a piece of Hollywood crap.

[–] MozartsMuse 11 years ago

I wouldn't say that I loved this movie, but I did really like it. I prefer horror movies, such as this one, over others that have a typical "Hollywood" look to them. I liked Insidious for its originality, but I thought that The Conjuring, despite being well-made, didn't really offer anything new. The Loved Ones was also pretty unique.

I absolutely loved the music score that Maniac used. It was so haunting, and it fit the movie perfectly.

My only criticisms would be that Elijah Wood's line delivery sounded a little awkward at times. Also, I think the film could have done without the one scalping scene that was extremely graphic. I thought it was a bit too much and took away from some of the more artistic aspects of the film.

Welcome to Fright Night....for real.

[–] mercury4 11 years ago

My only criticisms would be that Elijah Wood's line delivery sounded a little awkward at times. Also, I think the film could have done without the one scalping scene that was extremely graphic. I thought it was a bit too much and took away from some of the more artistic aspects of the film.

I agree. Sometimes I thought he sounded fake. I also disagreed with that one scalping scene too. Do you mean the one where he kill Rita? I have always been very much against that. Very unnecessary in my opinion.

[–] MozartsMuse 11 years ago

Yes, the scene where he murders Rita. That one was definitely the toughest to watch. It should have just been like the other death scenes, where he scalped them after they were already dead.

Welcome to Fright Night....for real.

[–] guardian_owl 11 years ago

I quite liked it, the soundtrack especially was amazing and that so much of the effects were practical was impressive.