WSR Detailed LaserDisc Review

Maniac
Genre:Horror

Reviewed In Issue 13 Of Widescreen Review® Stars:
Joe Spinell, Caroline Munro.

WSR Review Scores
Picture Rating: 2
Sound Rating: 3.5
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Reference Systems
Critics' Composite Score:
Internet Links

Supplementals
For this release director William Lustig has recut the footage to his original vision. Approximately three minutes have been trimmed from the first 20 minutes and the Caroline Munro “date” scene has been dropped (but is found in the supplemental section which also includes domestic and foreign theatrical trailers and other promotional footage).

DVD General Information
(Studio/Distributor): Elite Entertainment
(Catalog Number): EE1980
(MPAA Rating): Not Rated
(Retail Price): $$49.95
(Running Time In Minutes): 85
(Color Type): Color
(Chaptered/Scene Access): Yes
(Closed Captioned): No
(Theatrical Release): 1980
(LD Release Date): 3/1/95
(THX® Digitally Mastered): No

Credits Information
(Director): William Lustig
(Screenplay/Written By): C.A. Rosenberg & Joe Spinell
(Story): Joe Spinell
(Music): Jay Chattaway
(Director Of Photography):
(Production Designer): NA
(Visual Effects):
(Costume Designer):
(Editor): Lorenzo Marinelli
(Supervising Sound Editors):
(Re-Recording Mixers):
(Executive Producers): Joe Spinell & Judd Hamilton
(Co-Producers): NA
(Producers): Andrew Garroni & William Lustig

DVD Picture Information
(Principal Photography): Academy Standard Flat
(Theatrical Aspect Ratio): 1.85:1
(Measured LaserDisc Aspect Ratio): 1.80:1

DVD Sound Information
(DVD Soundtrack): Dolby Surround
(Theatrical Sound): Optical Mono
(Theatrical Re-Issue Soundtrack):
(Remastered Dolby Digital):
(Remastered DTS Digital Surround):
(Additional Languages):

WSR Narrative Review
Story Synopsis:
Maniac is a gory cult film about a psychopathic serial killer who scalps his victims. This is not for the squeamish but is sure to please the horror genre lover. This is an all-new digital transfer made from a low contrast print struck from the original optical negative (which was made from the 16mm camera negative).

LaserDisc Picture:
The picture is matted at 1.80:1 and is marred by artifacts that appear as a dirty glass effect and other unexplained motion inconsistencies and color deficiencies.

LaserDisc Soundtrack:
The sound is mastered from the original 35mm Dolby Stereo magnetic printmaster
(Surround Bass Below 50Hz):
(Aggressive System Surround):
(Intense 25Hz Bass):
(Deep Bass Challenging):
(Aggressive 0.1 LFE):
(Holosonic Soundfield):
(Aggressive Split Surround):
(Center Back Surround Imaging):
(Directionalized Dialogue):
Superb Sound Effects Recording Quality:
Superb Music Score Recording Quality:
Superb Special Visual Effects Quality:
Superb Color Fidelity:
Superb Cinematography:
Reference LaserDisc:
Collector Edition: