MANIAC (1980)
3-Disc Limited Edition
Label: Blue Underground
Release Date: December 11th 2018
Region Code; Region-FREE
Duration: 88 Minutes
Rating: Unrated
Audio:English 7.1 DTS-HD; 2.0 DTS-HD; Dolby Digital 2.0 with Optional English SDH, Français, Español, Português, Deutsch, Italiano, Dansk, Suomi, Nederlands, Svenska, Russian, Korean, Japanese, Chinese, Thai SUbtitles
Video: 1080p HD Widescreen (1.85:1)
Director: William Lustig
Cast: Joe Spinell, Caroline Munro, Gail Lawrence, Kelly Piper, Tom Savini, Hyla Marrow
The Notorious Horror Classic! New 4K Restoration!
Frank Zito (a career performance by writer/executive producer Joe Spinell of ROCKY and THE GODFATHER fame) is a deeply disturbed man, haunted by the traumas of unspeakable childhood abuse. And when these horrific memories begin to scream inside his mind, Frank prowls the seedy streets of New York City to stalk and slaughter innocent young women. Now Frank has begun a relationship with a beautiful photographer (Caroline Munro of THE SPY WHO LOVED ME), yet his vile compulsions remain. These are the atrocities of a human monster. This is the story of a MANIAC.
Directed by William Lustig (MANIAC COP 2, VIGILANTE) and featuring landmark gore effects by Tom Savini (DAWN OF THE DEAD, FRIDAY THE 13th), this relentlessly shocking and disturbing film was originally banned or censored all over the world due to its graphic violence. Now Blue Underground is thrilled to present MANIAC in a brand-new 4K Restoration from its recently discovered 16mm original camera negative, overflowing with hours of new and archival Extras!
Special Features:
Disc 1 (Blu-ray) Feature Film + Extras:
- Audio Commentary #1 with Producer/Director William Lustig and Producer Andrew W. Garroni
- Audio Commentary #2 with Producer/Director William Lustig, Special Make-Up Effects Artist Tom Savini, Editor Lorenzo Marinelli, and Joe Spinell’s Assistant Luke Walter
- Theatrical Trailers
- TV Spots
- Radio Spots
Disc 2 (Blu-ray) Extras:
- NEW! MANIAC Outtakes
- NEW! Returning to the Scene of the Crime with William Lustig
- Anna and the Killer – Interview with Star Caroline Munro
- The Death Dealer – Interview with Special Make-Up Effects Artist Tom Savini
- Dark Notes – Interview with Composer Jay Chattaway
- Maniac Men – Interview with Songwriters Michael Sembello and Dennis Matkosky
- The Joe Spinell Story
- Mr. Robbie: Maniac 2 Promo Reel
- MANIAC Publicity
- MANIAC Controversy
- BONUS! MANIAC Original Motion Picture Soundtrack CD by Jay Chattaway
- BONUS! Collectable Booklet with new essay by Michael Gingold
Sell Points:
- The notorious horror classic returns in a newly remastered 3-Disc Limited Edition!
- WORLD PREMIERE! New 4K Restoration from the recently discovered 16mm original camera negative
- Overflowing with hours of NEW and archival Extras
- Blu-ray features Full 1080p HD Resolution and DTS-HD Master Audio for the ultimate home theater experience
- Exclusive Limited Collector’s Edition includes 2 Blu-rays, Soundtrack CD, collectable booklet, reversible sleeve, and special 3D lenticular slipcover (First Pressing Only)
- National Print Advertising and extensive Online Exposure
- From Director William Lustig (VIGILANTE, RELENTLESS, UNCLE SAM, MANIAC COP trilogy)
- Stars cult favorites Joe Spinell (THE GODFATHER I & II, ROCKY I & II, VIGILANTE), Caroline Munro (THE SPY WHO LOVED ME, THE GOLDEN VOYAGE OF SINBAD), and Make-Up Effects Master Tom Savini (FROM DUSK TILL DAWN)
- Acclaimed 2012 remake starring Elijah Wood (THE LORD OF THE RINGS Trilogy)
- For fans of FRIDAY THE 13th, THE PROWLER, and HENRY: PORTRAIT OF A SERIAL KILLER
Film Reviews:
- “Some Of The Most Unprecedented, Graphically Detailed Depictions Of Violence Ever Put Before A Viewing Audience!” – Rue Morgue
- “One Of The Darkest Films Of All Time… Required Viewing For Any Horror Fan!” – HorrorDVDs.com
- “An Undiluted Expression Of Urban Horror… A Formidable New York Grunge Flick Through And Through!” – Cinepassion
- “Forget Tarantino & Rodriguez… This Is The REAL Grindhouse!” – eFilmCritic.com
• “A Grimy Snapshot Of Early ‘80s Manhattan And An Unapologetically Twisted Study In Pathological Murderousness!” – Lessons Of Darkness
MANIAC (30th Anniversary Edition) Blu-ray Reviews:
- “The new transfer is visually striking, especially on Blu-ray, consistently enhancing the film’s grain and grime. Fans with a casual interest, hardcore devotees and collectors alike would all do dreadfully well to pick up the new edition of MANIAC!” Four Skulls (out of 4) – Fangoria
- “Blue Underground has done a tremendous job with their double-disc Blu-ray edition of MANIAC. The gorgeous 2K high-def transfer looks fabulously detailed at every turn; this is how every catalog film should look in high-def!” - Film Score Monthly
- “Blue Underground has once again delivered a high quality Blu-ray release… the lossless soundtrack is fantastic and two discs worth of wonderful extras make this a package that’s easily recommended!” – Blu-ray.com
- “Extras are as stacked as I think I’ve ever seen. One can’t help but applaud the work of Blue Underground – these guys are coming across as top producers of the Blu-ray format – along with Criterion!” – DVD Beaver
- “Blue Underground certainly knows how to put a special edition Blu-ray together. Not only is this a great movie that looks killer in high-def, but there are tons of special features on the release. If you haven’t seen MANIAC before I can’t recommend the movie enough!” – Gutmunchers
- “MANIAC’s morose desperation and Spinell’s full-tilt sicko-performance mark the movie as an all-time exploitation classic, and one that should be on every collector’s shelf. You blood-spatter fanciers out there can consider this one Highly Recommended!” – DVD Talk
- “Blue Underground’s MANIAC is a model for how to handle a catalog Blu-ray release!” – Twitch Film
- “Blue Underground continue to outdo themselves with their Blu-ray releases. MANIAC is easily the most comprehensive and thoroughly entertaining set the company has produced. I’m absolutely floored by the enormous attention to detail that went into putting this 30th Anniversary edition of MANIAC together. Needless to say, this one gets my absolute highest possible recommendation!” Five Skulls (out of 5) – Horrorview
