Maniacal (film)
| Maniacal | |
|---|---|
 DVD cover | |
| Directed by | Joe Castro |
| Produced by | David Sterling |
| Written by | Eric Spudic |
| Music by | Paul Mitrisin |
| Cinematography | Jeff Leroy |
| Editing by | Steven J. Escobar |
| Studio |
Wildcat Entertainment Sterling Entertainment |
| Distributed by | Screen Entertainment |
| Release dates |
|
| Running time | 82 minutes |
| Country | United States |
| Language | English |
Maniacal is a 2003 horror film directed by Joe Castro, and written by Eric Spudic.
Plot
While his sister Janet is out with friends one night in 1994, the disturbed Gilbert Gill uses a hammer to wound his alcoholic father and kill his sexually abusive stepmother before being arrested by Officer Spiegel. Gilbert is placed in the Hitchberg Sanitarium, where he is tormented by hallucinations of his stepmother.
Three years later, on the day he is scheduled to visit his father and sister at home, Gilbert escapes the sanitarium, murdering several employees and patients on his way out. Hijacking a pickup truck, Gilbert breaks into his old house, creates makeshift weapons out of some assorted objects and goes to a horror shop, where he steals a clown mask and slits the throat of the clerk.
While Mr. Gill and Spiegel search for Gilbert, Janet, Spiegel's daughter D.J. and their friend Brooke have a slumber party and horror film marathon at the Spiegel house, being joined by D.J. and Brooke's boyfriends, and their friend Lance. When D.J., Brooke and their respective boyfriends go to the bedrooms to have sex they are murdered by Gilbert, who then goes after Janet and Lance. When Mr. Gill and Spiegel arrive, Gilbert wounds his father, blows Spiegel's head off with his shotgun, and crushes Lance's skull.
As Gilbert begins strangling Janet, she starts rambling about he is going to be punished and go to Hell, and that he must ask God for forgiveness. Gilbert suffers a psychotic break, drinks cleaning chemicals he finds in the Spiegel's washroom, and dies in his sister's arms.
Cast
- Perrine Moore as Janet Gill
- Lee Webb as Gilbert Gill
- Carl Darchuk as Garrett Gill
- Brannon Gould as Lance
- Heather Chase as D.J. Spiegel
- Jon Prutow as Josh
- David Ortega as Dane
- Carol Rose Carver as Brooke
- Deborah Huber as Nancy Gill
- Michael Robert Nyman as Officer Spiegel
- Darlene Tygrett as Nurse #1
- Vida Ghaffari as Nurse #2
- Beth Friedlaender as Sissy
- Otto Sturcke as Marco
- David Scalzetto as Eddie Brandt
- Kyle Swann as Kid in Park
- Mary Ann Springer as Kid in Park
Reception
The acting, plot and effects were all criticized by The Worldwide Celluloid Massacre, which categorized the film as "Worthless".[1] Cold Fushion Video Reviews found Maniacal derivative, weak and riddled with plot holes.[2] Another scathing critique was given by Eat Horror, which wrote that the film "stands out as one of the worst slashers I've ever seen".[3]
Monsters at Play also stated the plot was cliché, but commended the gore effects, editing, and attractiveness of the female cast.[4] A score of two out of four was given by The Video Graveyard, which said the film was "nothing special, but watchable" despite the lame dialogue, occasionally dodgy gore, and weak third act.[5]
References
- ↑ Zev Toledano. "Joe Castro". Maniacal. The Worldwide Celluloid Massacre. Retrieved September 27, 2012.
- ↑ Nathan Shumate (May 14, 2003). "Maniacal (2003)". Maniacal. Cold Fusion Video Reviews. Retrieved September 27, 2012.
- ↑ Simon Hill. "Maniacal". Maniacal. Eat Horror. Retrieved September 27, 2012.
- ↑ Lawrence P. Raffel. "Maniacal (2002)". Maniacal. Monsters at Play. Retrieved September 27, 2012.
- ↑ Christ Hartley. "The Video Graveyard: Maniacal". Maniacal. The Video Graveyard. Retrieved September 27, 2012.
External links
- Maniacal at the Internet Movie Database