Frodo as a sexually depraved killer? We've had a bit of time to get used to the idea as word came out of the AFM that Elijah Wood had been cast as the lead in the Alexandre Aja produced, Franck Khalfoun directed remake of William Lustig's Maniac.
The plan is for Khalfoun to shoot the film largely from the killer's POV, so how much Wood will actually appear on screen is yet to be seen but the first behind the scenes shots from the picture have just hit the web and Wood is front and center, certainly not appearing shy about getting his hands dirty. Check the gallery below.
Just when the streets seemed safe, a serial killer with a fetish for scalps is back and on the hunt.
Frank is the withdrawn owner of a mannequin store, but his life changes when young artist Anna appears asking for his help with her new exhibition. As their friendship develops and Frank's obsession escalates, it becomes clear that she has unleashed a long-repressed compulsion to stalk and kill.
A 21st century Jack the Ripper set in present-day LA, MANIAC is a re-boot of the cult film considered by many to be the most suspenseful slasher movie ever made - an intimate, visually daring, psychologically complex and profoundly horrific trip into the downward spiralling nightmare of a killer and his victims.
Unintentional hilarity. I would have a little faith in this given that Aja is involved, if only i could forget Mirrors.
Well, Wood did prove capable of playing a sadistic killer before in Sin City, so I don't think it's a stretch for him this time around. By the way, this is a rare time when I do welcome a remake because I thought the original movie had good intentions but with poor execution, except for the Spinell's great performance as the killer. Remakes of good concepts but poor execution is a good thing.
stop with the remake infection allready???.......the original maniac is a true classic, dark gritty nasty slasher, with an atmosphere and charm that most of these great underground classics had back in the days ( and something we dont see often now in my opinion ) ...dont mess it up with a remake...ps killer soundtrack in the original..subway stalk scene is still my favorite...alex aja is a great director no doubt, he has a real eye for horror which is rare....his hills have eyes is a lonely example of a good horror remake..can you name others of the top of your heaf ?..his latest films was very dissapointing i think...mirrors was a disaster...but frodo as a maniac slasher ??? come on man....
of course ive seen sin city, and loved it actually...casting wood in sin city was brilliant exactly because his role matched his good-guy look perfectly, so when that little bastard turned out to be a fast running nail slasher we were taken by surprise....this role is something very very different, and im not sure he is a good choice...he is a great actor no doubt, but on this project im not sure.....lets see what happens when the trailer drops..if it kills ill be amazed...
oh and ps maniac is a true classic in my opinion..inspite of what poor execution and bad acting you mention...nearly all of the old 70s/80s horror/gore underground movies has some flaws in these areas, but they had heart, guts, power, and ideas and directors burning with passion for the project and many of them learning as they went along...you accept these things ( or may even find it charming ) when watching these oldschool films, because everything else is just oozing real passion...next you are gonna tell me that fulcis new york ripper is not a classic either then ?.....
I hate Hollywood films , i grew out of them when i was 18, Lord of the Rings was the last commercial film i saw. Hollywood films are obscene, muzak for spotty teens, and philistines. ugh!!
I think Elijah's going to nail this, it'll be sick, he has diversity and think he has proved it. And as Alexandre Aja is on board, it's in good hands, the Hills have eyes was an awsome remake. I don't think there is anything wrong with remaking cult horror, they breathe new life and colour into an already existing monster, in most cases giving them fresh fuel. The result not only brings out the devoted fan but introduces it to a newer audience. I shall be watching.