Pop Culture News

William Lustig’s ‘Maniac’ 3-Disc Limited Edition 4k Restoration To Be Unleashed In December!

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 N ew 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. Now Blue Underground is thrilled to present MANIAC in a brand-new 4K Restoration from its recently discovered 16mm original camera negative, overflowing with hours of new and archival extras! A complete list is below…

Pre-order: https://mvdshop.com/products/maniac-limited-edition-blu-ray-dvd

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

  • Audio Commentary #1 with Producer/Director William Lustig and Producer Andrew W. 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:
  • NEW! MANIAC Outtakes
  • NEW! 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
BONUS! MANIAC Original Motion Picture Soundtrack CD by Jay Chattaway
 
BONUS! Collectable Booklet with new essay by Michael Gingold
 
MANIAC (30th Anniversary Edition) Blu-ray Reviews:
  • “The new transfer is visually striking, especially on Blu-ray, consistently enhancing the film’s grain and grime. Fans with a casual interest, hardcore devotees and collectors alike would all do dreadfully well to pick up the new edition of MANIAC!” Four Skulls (out of 4) – Fangoria
  • “Blue Underground has done a tremendous job with their double-disc Blu-ray edition of MANIAC. The gorgeous 2K high-def transfer looks fabulously detailed at every turn; this is how every catalog film should look in high-def!” – Film Score Monthly
  • “Blue Underground has once again delivered a high quality Blu-ray release… the lossless soundtrack is fantastic and two discs worth of wonderful extras make this a package that’s easily recommended!” – Blu-ray.com
  • “Extras are as stacked as I think I’ve ever seen. One can’t help but applaud the work of Blue Underground – these guys are coming across as top producers of the Blu-ray format – along with Criterion!” – DVD Beaver
  • “Blue Underground certainly knows how to put a special edition Blu-ray together. Not only is this a great movie that looks killer in high-def, but there are tons of special features on the release. If you haven’t seen MANIAC before I can’t recommend the movie enough!” – Gutmunchers
  • “MANIAC’s morose desperation and Spinell’s full-tilt sicko-performance mark the movie as an all-time exploitation classic, and one that should be on every collector’s shelf. You blood-spatter fanciers out there can consider this one Highly Recommended!” – DVD Talk
  • “Blue Underground’s MANIAC is a model for how to handle a catalog Blu-ray release!” – Twitch Film
  • “Blue Underground continue to outdo themselves with their Blu-ray releases. MANIAC is easily the most comprehensive and thoroughly entertaining set the company has produced. I’m absolutely floored by the enormous attention to detail that went into putting this 30th Anniversary edition of MANIAC together. Needless to say, this one gets my absolute highest possible recommendation!” Five Skulls (out of 5) – Horrorview