*** This review may contain spoilers ***

Elijah Wood plays the owner of a mannequin restoration store, who also happens to be a serial killer, taking scalps from the women he kills in the movie Maniac (2012).

Extensively filmed from the killers point of view. Watching this reiterated that I don't like cinematography that is mainly shot from a first person aspect. To me, you need to see the characters for yourself, mixing some scenes, as in "DOOM", gives a better balance to the overall feel of a movie.


Elijah's character, "Frank" was raised by a non caring, abusive mother - Played by America Olivo - who appears to have been a prostitute. Having sex with many men while Frank watched on, leaving Frank to fend for himself, however this is not fully explained in the movie and a lot is left for the viewer to figure out for themselves. Frank has suffered with migraines since he was a child and these progressively get worse throughout the course of the movie. During all this mayhem, maniac Frank (Elijah Wood) begins to form a romantic relationship with Anna played by French actress - Nora Amezeder - an up and coming photographic artist. who seems to quell his murderous desires.

Anna has no clue that Frank is a maniac and finds Frank's work with mannequins fascinating and asks if she can use some of his mannequins in her art exhibition. Frank agrees to help her and she invites him to the opening. Frank attends and all seems well with Anna expressing her joy upon is arrival, tho things take a turn for the worst after an encounter with Ann's boyfriend Jason (Sammi Rotibi) in the Mens room. Frank also encounters Rita (Jan Broberg) Anna's art director, who seems to have contempt for Frank's work and attempts to belittle him.

After brushing Frank off, Rita leaves the exhibit and returns home with Frank following not far behind. He stealthily gains entry to Rita's apartment where it appears that he drowns her in the bathtub, however, he has only knocked her out so he proceeds to tie her up and


starts speaking to her as if she is his mother culminating in him scalping her for his collection. The next day Anna calls Frank sobbing explaining that she has just found out that Rita has been murdered. During the conversation Anna mentions that her boyfriend has left the country and Frank offers to come over to console her. This leads to the climax of the movie, which you will have to see for yourself.

The movie is a remake of the unremarkable 1980's movie of the same name. And this movie is no different. Very forgettable performances by all including Elijah Wood, who lives up to his name and offers up a very wooden performance. Which is disappointing as I expected more from an actor who is clearly attempting to break from his stereotype of "Frodo" from lord of the rings. The filming takes place extensively in the grotty back streets of an American city. This part is probably the only saving grace of he film if that is possible as the cinematographers did a brilliant job in portraying the dark and bleak atmosphere.

In conclusion - I could not recommend this as a must see and rather would suggest that if you have nothing better to do on a cold and wet night, find something else to watch.

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