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 

Michael's Musings

Back Off!
Michael Shinafelt
Photo: Daniel G. Lam 

How is everyone's Social Distancing going? SD is the word of the year, that is this week. Anyway I am using this time creatively and to try and binge watch HBO's The Outsider which I did DVR , but have yet to view.

"Yes" this is what it's come to minions, stay safe and healthy it's time for me to do my weekly thang!

Watched Ma with Octavia Spencer yesterday, I hope she got paid well...

Perhaps we should unplug 2020, wait 10 seconds and try plugging it back in to see what happens

No matter how bored you get, just say no to texting your ex 

May the strap on be with you

There's still good in this world, Porn Hub is offering it's premium service free to the people of Italy  

So glad I don't have children during this time. I'm sure they would try to make me learn Tik Tok dances 

The plan isn't always the plan, especially when one gets punched in the mouth 

Right now I am thinking: "What would Pee Wee Herman do?" it's my happy place 😊

Woman Crush of the Week: Whitney Cummings, her Tweets make me LOL

Dogs may be man's best friend, but cats don't show the Police where your drugs are...

Today's secret word is: Fondle (think about it, but not too much)

If there's something weird, and it don't look good, who you gonna call? Not Donald Trump, that's for sure!!!

Dolphins have returned to the canals of Venice since human activity in them has ceased

Like to watch?

Watch me here:
https://www.instagram.com/michaelshinafelt/?hl=en
https://twitter.com/MShinafelt  

Hump Day & Chill

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Tunesday Tuesday!

Happy St. Patrick's Day! I know we are all pretty much confined to our respective dwellings, but if you want to celebrate you can. Seriously, why can't you party with your bad self at home?

So here is a throwback sort of Tunesday Tuesday song that I am sure is in everyone's topical minds. It's The Knack performing My Sharona. When the Corona Virus first hit I, like many of you, wondered when someone was going to parody this song and insert Corona for Sharona. Admit it, you know you did! 

While I have seen many memes to this effect, no one, yet has to do an actual song parody. Too soon probably since we are in the thick of it.

Thus I leave you with The Knack singing one of my favorite songs of all time My Sharona.

Mic Drop!

The Knack on Wikipedia -
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Knack

Getting To Know: Jeremiah Hahn

Jeremiah Hahn 

A little while back, in the day, I went to the Grand Opening of Silverback Coffee of Rwanda in Echo Park, CA.

Some of the actors from filmmaker Robert Hensley's upcoming project Family Affair were there. One of them happened to be Jeremiah Hahn who portrays Martin in it.

Thus I took out my smart phone hit the voice recorder app and chatted Jeremiah up about the movie, here is what transpired...

MS: I don't know whole lot about Family Affair, give me some 411.

JH: Well, Robert and I have been trying to work together over the years and this project really came together well. I love the character he cast me for, the therapist, he's a window into one of the lead characters. It was a lot of fun to be able to find some truth to that human being and help move the story forward by providing that window. Working with Robert is so much fun!

MS: That's always fun for an actor, I've been there, done that (laughs) 

JH: Yeah, Robert isn't like you can only do your part a certain way he allows for an actor's creativity.

Jeremiah Hahn
Crypt TV

MS: I hear you are also on Crypt TV, which, being a horror fan, I'm surprised I didn't hear about until now.

JH: Crypt TV has such a great pedigree, and they're so experimental with the different things they do. It's giving a lot of young voices a platform. 

MS: I like that the Entertainment Industry has become more expansive.

JH: There are like 530 scripted series in production. 

MS: Wow! I wasn't aware there were that many.

JH: You couldn't get through all of them in a year. (laughs) It's great there are so many options for everyone. 

MS: How do you choose what you watch?

JH: If three people recommend it, then I watch it (laughs) 

MS: Congratulations, on everything!

JH: Thanks!

Check out Family Affair at:
https://familyaffairfilm.weebly.com/

Jeremiah on IG -
https://www.instagram.com/jeremiah_hahn/?hl=en  

"Treason"

D.O.A. Announce "Treason", Their Eighteenth Studio Album

Coming March 15th via Sudden Death Records

 

East Coast US Tour Dates With DEAD KENNEDYS in March + more dates

If an actor or a reality show host can become president and wreak havoc around the world, then surely musicians have a time honored duty of reacting to that and speaking up for regular people. Punk rock legends D.O.A. have decided to do just that. That's why you have the new D.O.A. album: Treason. Joey Shithead Keithley, Canada's Godfather of Punk, has been getting sick of the dismaying news coming out of world capitals like Washington, Moscow, Beijing, Tehran, Pyongyang etc., so he decided to come up with D.O.A.'s musical reaction to this crap and stand up against corruption, warmongering, racism, sexism and global warming. So here it is: Treason, it's the band's eighteenth album. It takes off in full frenzy with "All the President's Men" with Keithley exclaiming It's time to put them in the pen. Then D.O.A. quickly launches into a modern punk anthem "Wait Till Tomorrow" a look at the brutal treatment of refugees. But never lost on D.O.A., is that part of their mantra that is punk rock humor, hence they have spawned: "It Was D.O.A." an uproarious piss take on unsuspecting musicians that will soon learn the tough lessons of the road: the D.O.A. members themselves. D.O.A. Of course with an album named Treason you would expect some comment on President Donald Trump. So the Men of Action have taken one of their all-time classics and come up with new lyrics. They have reworked "Fucked Up Ronnie" and the result is "Fucked Up Donald" and it's a blistering 73 seconds of mayhem! Along the way Treason flips the corrupt system the bird with wild tunes like: "Gonna Set You Straight," "Just Got Back From the USA" and "It's Treason." There's also an absolutely ripping version of fellow Canadian Neil Young's "Hey Hey My My" where D.O.A. takes a unique approach that has anguish and fire at the same time. On Treason D.O.A pulls no punches and nor should they. What you get is an uncontrollable punk rock riot that seems to breathe fire, the way punk was meant to be. Pre-order the LP or CD at Sudden Death Records.

East Coast US Tour Dates 3/15 - Brooklyn Bowl - Brooklyn, NY   ***Opening for Dead Kennedys Canada Tour Dates 3/26 - Record City - Vernon, BC 3/27 - Gun Barrel Grill - Apex, BC 3/28 - Prospect Pub - Pemberton, BC Canada Spring Tour Dates 5/7 - London Music Hall - London, ON 5/8 - Lee's Palace - Toronto, ON 5/9 - This Ain't Hollywood - Hamilton, ON 5/10 - Starlight - Waterloo, ON 5/11- The Foxx Lounge - Barrie, ON 5/12 - The Mansion - Kingston, ON 5/13 - Les Foufounes - Montreal, QC 5/14 - Dominion Tavern - Ottawa, ON 5/15 - L'Anti Bar - Quebec, QC 5/16 - Rock Café Le Stage - Trois-Rivieres, QC 5/17 - Bar Le Magog - Sherbrooke, QC 5/18 - Warehouse Concert Hall - St Catherines, ON West Coast US Spring Tour Dates 6/4 - Little Devil's Lunchbox - Port Angeles, WA 6/5 - Blast Off - Salem, OR 6/6 - TBD - Tacoma, WA Follow Joe on Instagram and Twitter, and the D.O.A. gang on Instagram and on Facebook

Just Because...Gerard Butler

Great Balls Of Fire!
Gerard Butler 

Just Because we need a distraction from the chaos, Just Because I've got chills they're multiplying & Just Because he's a total stud, that's right minions it's time to get us some Gerard Butler! 

Look at Gerard as he carries the Tokyo 2020 Olympic Flame during the torch relay in Sparta, Greece. "Yes" peeps, just when you thought he couldn't get any hotter (pun intended) we get Flaming Butler!

Honestly I am surprised they even had the torch relay given everything going on in the world at large. But I'm glad they did so I could get a look at Man Candy in the form of one of my favorite fantasies. 

Hey Greece is the word after all.

Mic Drop!

Gerard on IG -
https://www.instagram.com/gerardbutler/?hl=en