Fun
Frisky
Nostalgic
Intense
Adventurous
Choked Up
Curious
Romantic
Weird
-
Intense
‘Maniac’ (1980)
The Criterion Channel is currently featuring a collection of B-movies they call “William Lustig’s Maniac Pulp.” Lustig’s ouevre is mostly made up of down and dirty slasher films, which also serves as an apt description of Maniac, his 1980 film about a deeply disturbed denizen of New York City who goes on a combination killing/scalping spree. Featuring some truly grody SFX work from the great Tom Savini, this slasher picture was banned in both the UK and Australia for its depiction of graphic violence. If you can stomach the intensity of the proceedings, though, you’ll see why Criterion chose to spotlight Lustig’s work; there’s something undeniable about the manner in which Lustig builds mood and atmosphere. He might not be everyone’s cup of tea, but that doesn’t mean he’s not an auteur in his own right.
