31 Days of Draughts and Darkness: Volume III
Maniac (2012)
Most horror remakes do little more than up the gore factor
and effects. That's part of the reason why so many are considered inferior to
the original, even if the original wasn't anything special.
Tonight's feature is a remake of the 80's slasher
"Maniac", known for little more than the nasty gore effects of
legend Tom Savini. As far as horror remakes go, slashers are a dime-a-dozen.
Even genre superstars like Jason and Freddy have gotten the lackluster rehash
treatment. So what chance does this little film have?
As it turns out, quite a lot. A deeply disturbing lot.
The Plot:
Frank, by all outward appearances,
is a normal 30-something bachelor looking for love. He runs the inherited
family business restoring antique mannequins, frequents dating websites, and
struggles with awkwardness around the opposite sex. Most women see him as shy,
a harmless introvert, dull but well-meaning.
But we all know better.
"Maniac" plays out
strictly from a POV perspective, so we spend the film literally looking through
Frank's eyes. And his twisted mind. Frank has a psychotic perspective on
romance that's built on the foundations of some titanic mental trauma. He sees
it as a quest for romance. We see a serial killer.
And we get to witness each
little nasty detail, be it real or hallucinated, first-hand.
What unfolds is a tale beyond
crazy, as Frank murders his way through E-Harmony, taking a parting gift from
each victim. Their scalp. Along the way, this ever-growing collection of tissue
begins to grant eerie afterlives to Frank's victims in the forms of the
mannequins who receive 'wigs'.
The Flavor:
A warning: this one is for the hardcore horror fan.
"Maniac" is a wolf going right for the jugular. The film
makes no qualms, nor holds back from showing all the grisly details of Frank's
secret. That we see it through his eyes makes the experience all the more
disturbing, as suddenly the audience feels involved in the attacks as Frank
conducts them.
Elijah Wood's performance is bone-chilling. If you've ever
seen "Sin City", you've already a solid idea how scary Frodo can be
when given the chance. Here, it's even worse, as Frank has the kind demeanor to
appear like a nice person before snapping on a dime. Even more surprising is
how in the middle of all this carnage, Wood somehow, someway manages to imbue
his murderous character with something that almost
approaches sympathetic. Almost. But not quite.
Even so, to pull off this feat while scalping people is some
serious acting, made even more impressive because we only ever get Wood's
performance though dialogue, catching tiny glimpses of his face in mirror
reflections and nothing else. In essence, Elijah's performance is almost
entirely spoken word.
As his character grows progressively more unhinged, his
warped psyche begins to distort the 'real world'. We see what he does, so this
hallucinatory skew becomes the movie for us, the audience.
This stew of slasher and psycho
makes for some dark, freaky imagery. Make no mistake about "Manica"
being brutal. This film is nasty, shocking, and dark. The gore is never
shadowed or subtle. How could it be? We're seeing all of it through the eyes of
its perpetrator. Harden yourself up for some serious mayhem if you decide to
give this film a whirl.
You'll know after the first five
minutes what sort of nightmare you're in for.
Best Paired With:
The hardcore horror fan, well seasoned to R-rated
twistedness, will appreciate "Maniac" for giving this genre a very
creative spin. There's actually quite a lot of inventiveness in the
storytelling, for even though the plot is basic, Frank's projected guilt and
what it does to his worldview grants a richness to the tale. The idea of
victims coming back to haunt you, here taken literally via the animated
mannequins, is unique. Dark as a black hole, but unique.
Brew:
For a film like this, you'll need something with a strong
kick. Forget the sweetness and spice, this film calls for the bitter punch of
hops and blood-red exterior.
Name:
Flipside
Brewery:
Sierra Nevada
Where
Brewed: Chico, CA
ABV:
6.2%
Style:
Red IPA
Color: Fitting for
tonight's feature, Flipside gives off a dark, deep shade of red. The color
approaches an almost rusty tone when held up to the light.
Aroma: A bit of malt character plays on the nose per sniff,
but the majority of the scent is comprised of hop. The hop profile is primarily
citrus, evocative of grapefruit.
Taste: For the slightest moment after the brew parts your
lips, you get a refreshing, crisp malty flavor reminiscent of an Irish Red ale.
But the moment is only just that, for a millisecond later the hop brigade
shows up and dominates the palate. Though a bit of the malt sweetness is
detectable in the background, Flipside is mainly about the hop roundhouse kick.
Those who enjoy the hoppy bite will not be disappointed, as
Flipside approaches levels of bitterness and citrus zing characteristic of West
Coast-style IPAs. Seeing as the brew hails from California, this is no
surprise. There's a potent spike to the tongue as the brew settles, with a nice
balance between the pure alpha-acid bitterness and a clean, citrus-like
delicateness. The glimmer of malt remaining in the background provides
additional complexity.
Aftertaste: What little malt echo remains is quickly
obliterated by the aftertaste, here dominated exclusively by the more
bitter-side of the hop. More of the citrus character can be found in the
scent profile and primary taste. The aftertaste belongs to the bitter-bite,
which clings to the back of your tongue long after each sip.
Body: Medium bodied and smooth on the tongue, Flipside is
quite drinkable for a beer packing the hoptitude that it does. If you're
accustomed to stronger beers, you'll find this brew quite refreshing, though folks less used to hops may want to take their time.
Pair: With this much bitterness on hand, I look to salty and
savory meals to fill out the rest of the flavor wheel. IPAs go hand in hand
with pizza, burgers, or really any party food which maxes out your daily
recommended value of sodium.
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