Film Buff Friday: Maniac

MANIAC

The Notorious Horror Classic! Now on 4K Ultra HD Blu-ray!

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. 

Disc 1 (4K UHD Blu-ray) Feature Film + Extras:

* Audio Commentary #1 with Producer/Director William Lustig and Producer Andrew 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:

* MANIAC Outtakes

* 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

MANIAC (3-Disc Limited Edition) Blu-ray Reviews:

* "5 out of 5! It is sourced from an outstanding 4K remaster that will end up being the final makeover that the film gets on the home video market. The bonus material that was gathered for the release...is beyond overwhelming. Simply put, the folks at Blue Underground went to work to produce the definitive home video release of MANIAC and they delivered it. As far as I am concerned this is the type of top-quality work that deserves a perfect overall score. HIGHLY RECOMMENDED!"- Blu-ray.com

* "5 out of 5! This new 4K restoration of the original true 16MM negatives looks absolutely stellar. The folks at Blue Underground have absolutely done this film justice with this new 'Limited Edition' Blu-ray Disc release. It's sheer perfection in every single area. 5 across the board here for ratings, and that's something very rare for me to be able to justify!" - High Def Disc News

* "MANIAC is a horror classic. Blue Underground has treated it as such. A near flawless transfer, thoughtful audio commentaries, and a wealth of extras. As a result, MANIAC is a 'Top 10 Blu-Rays of the Year' level release. HIGHEST POSSIBLE RECOMMENDATION!!!" - The Movie Isle

* "10 out of 10! Blue Underground are heads and shoulders the fan's company as they are bringing us all these amazing films from our youth in stunning high definition and amazing quality with a lot of great special features. MANIAC on Blu-ray is a must buy!" - Wicked Channel

* "Almost forty years later, MANIAC has lost none of its power to shock... Blue Underground's Blu-ray reissue is a thing of morbid beauty, presenting the picture in a gorgeous new transfer, with really strong audio and with a couple of important new extras and all of the archival material from past editions as well. Highly recommended" - Rock! Shock! Pop!

* "MANIAC is just not a film you can ignore . . . especially in its final moments. Blue Underground presents the 4K restoration of MANIAC on Blu-ray with stunning results. With an upgrade in sound and in vision, this low budget shocker, originally filmed on 16mm, looks almost new again!" - Reel Reviews 

Pills & Kills "The Theta Girl"

Once upon a time...

The Theta Girl, a feature film produced by first-time filmmakers David Axe and Christopher Bickel, is coming to film circuits this Winter.

The film had its world-premiere in Atlanta on Friday the 13th of October at midnight -- a fitting time slot for opening what director Christopher Bickel calls "a brutally violent existential horror film." At the Atlanta screening, several audience members walked out of the film following one shocking scene depicting a violent home invasion. The audience members who remained were very vocal and enthusiastic about their enjoyment and appreciation of the film, one audience member writing in a comment online: "Holy sh*t! Talk about a low-budget MASTERPIECE. A gory drug-induced mystery! A psychedelic B Movie thriller! Roger Corman-esque Punk cinema that's WAY better and smarter than it should be! A++++++"

The Theta Girl was produced on a shoestring budget of $14,000. To put that budget into perspective, the film could have been made 3,571 times over for what it cost Hollywood to make one Emoji Movie. It is the first film for Axe and Bickel, and indeed it was the first film for the majority of cast and crew. Though the film exhibits some rough edges as a result of its extremely low budget and the experience level of the creators, it has been enthusiastically praised for its high entertainment value, thoughtful existential themes, and shocking content. 

The film has already received accolades from critics. One critic gushing "not only is it possibly the best independent film of 2017 but possibly one of the best examples of low budget filmmaking EVER!" (full review HERE)

Venerated Indie Film magazine Film Threat gave The Theta Girl high marks calling it "edgy, thoughtful, quality entertainment." (full review HERE)

Billed as an "existenploitation film," The Theta Girl follows the trials and tribulations of young drug-dealer, Gayce Delko, and the hallucinogen she peddles. "Theta" was a "fun drug" -- a drug that blew people's minds. Theta was supposed to be a door to Heaven, but when her best friends get methodically and brutally murdered, Gayce realizes theta might also be a door to Hell -- and it's up to her to shut it. The film's tagline is "She brought the pills. He brought the kills." 

Bickel describes The Theta Girl as "an exercise in sex, drugs, punk rock, brutality, gore, revenge, and self-actualization... but really it's an art film." 

The Theta Girl was written by David Axe and directed by Christopher Bickel, who also shot, edited, and provided sound-design for the film. Axe and Bickel also served as the film's producers under the "Barron Perter Productions" moniker. The film stars Victoria Elizabeth as "Gayce," Shane Silman as "Brother Marcus," and Darrelle D. Dove as "Derek." 

The film has not been rated by the MPAA, but it contains nudity, drug use, adult themes, and extremely graphic violence. 

Trailer: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=w-My7mJg1M4