Maniac

[serai]

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Just watched this film last night. WOW.

Let's just stipulate the obvious: this fucking film is DISGUSTING. Not on the order of The Human Centipede, mind you, but plenty disgusting enough. TONS of ooey-gooeys, as my friend Leslie used to say. I spent a good deal of it covering parts of the screen with my hand. YUCK.

But setting that aside, I was seriously impressed. Really innovative work with the camera. I know the film is just following the original (which I haven't seen) in many aspects, but I thought the device of putting the entire thing in first-person perspective was really interesting. It works especially well with Elijah in the lead role, since his face with those enormous eyes is so intensely shocking in the little glimpses you get in mirrors, etc. (Man, that reflection in the knife blade was fucking chilling.) The effects used to convey his migraines and madness were beautifully thought out, too.

And Elijah, holy shit. What a performance. The script is kinda hidebound in its hewing to 50's era psychology (not to mention that hoary old cliche about the crippled killer being able to catch up to a woman running at full tilt), but Elijah does spectacularly well with what he's given. He's horribly pathetic, which is used well since the film never really tries to make you sympathize with him. (The most I could do was think, "Yeah, I guess that would make him crazy.") So his pathos becomes distasteful and his pain becomes just squalid. This is not a guy I would ever be moved to comfort, frankly, and Elijah seems fine with that reaction being a possibility. He makes no effort to seem disarmingly sweet or deceivingly charming. He's clumsy and clingy and unpleasant - honestly, he made me want to take a shower.

I always find it wonderful to see an actor go so completely against his usual mien. And it's interesting how much of that Elijah's been doing with his roles the last ten years or so. He seems to like playing slimy bastards and perverts. Goddess knows those eyes of his serve him well in those roles, lol.

Damn. Really interesting film. Excellent performance. I have no idea if I'll ever watch it again, but I'm certainly glad I did.

Comments

[addie71.livejournal.com]

I still can't make myself watch this one. Maybe someday.

[serai1.livejournal.com]

It is tough. Covering the screen was absolutely necessary for me. Also, I was watching it on a portable DVD player, so it wasn't overwhelming. I can deal with squeals and shrieks and random gloppy sounds, and just took a very quick glance now and then to make sure I understood where the scene was going. I personally feel it was worth it, but I certainly understand why you wouldn't be inclined. I never watch things like this without a concrete reason, as this sort of thing doesn't count as "entertainment" in my universe.*


*Unless it's funny. Then I can make an exception. Humor is a great leavener of horror.

[aliensouldream.livejournal.com]

I haven't watched it because it's not my genre but I'm glad his performance impressed.

[serai1.livejournal.com]

It's beautiful. Give him the right role and he really shines.

[lijahlover.livejournal.com]

I'm like addie maybe someday.

I am okay with horror and some gore and creepy is awesome. I have issues with just over the top disturbing things.

[yeuxdebleu.livejournal.com]

Someone who knew I was an Elijah fan gave me the Blu-ray of this movie as a gift. I have only watched the special features which have some fascinating info on how the movie was made. I thought it best to know how things were done before watching the actual movie so it wouldn't seem so scary. I'm a wuss when it comes to scary movies. Elijah LOVES the genre and he's very good in scary films. My husband thinks just looking at his eyes is scary. O_O He calls Elijah an alien.

[creekside12.livejournal.com]

Also impressed. While portraying unsympathetic, disturbing, unpleasant folks Seems like a 180 in his nature (and I also think he's an amazing actor) I've always had the feeling that yes, Elijah is well brought up, and kind, and easy going, but if he's really pushed, and/or forced to be protective of a friend/family member, he is capable of being a bitch on wheels! He's a classic middle child, a peacemaker, but he's nobody's doormat, is our lad.....

[serai1.livejournal.com]

Heehee. I don't know. Remember his episode of Punk'd? LOL. I seriously wanted to reach through the screen and slap him. Oh my god, get some fucking balls, Elijah! It was sweet and embarrassing and funny as hell.

[creekside12.livejournal.com]

Ah, but step back a minute and really look at how he acted in that Punk'd episode....."I'm a good person officer", and that horrified, oh gosh, did I do that? And the Big Eyes. I'm betting he got back in that Escalade after his sweet, deprecating reaction to finding out he was punked....and laughed his ass off because they bought his "oh golly, poor me, I'm such an innocent" act.

Or....maybe he's gotten more self-confident and sophisticated over the years.... But I'm still going for Theory A. ;-)

[serai1.livejournal.com]

LOL. That's a sweet interpretation, but that is not at all what I saw. I just don't buy that Elijah is a Machiavellian trickster. That panic was utterly real; I saw no indication that it was some kind of put-on. He was crapping his pants, and then he proved he's a good guy by laughing his ass off. But I just don't see any evidence of anything else.

And that's fine. I have no problem with Elijah being an ordinary person who has ordinary reactions. I'm not into deifying anybody - he's a guy, and that's all he needs to be, at least for me. That's why I love that episode so much. Because he wasn't all cool and playing people to make them "think" the was faking it. Why would he? He didn't know he was being punked, so why in the world would he fake a reaction? Bottom line is, I rather liked that he was such a pussy. It was funny and frustrating, but it was real. Which was the whole point of that show, after all - real reactions. I think that's why the punks were so extreme - because it's damn near impossible to watch your friends' house burning down and know that you caused it with your stupid fiddling around with his barbecue (as happened to Hugh Jackman), and have a reaction that is anything less than 100% real.