Maniac
The Cinema Snob gets extra snobby to take a look at William Lustig's notorious 1980 serial killer film that has the audacity to be dark and violent.
Original Series
Paranoia
Welcome
Previously featured on YouTube before ultimately being ousted by the powers that be (those powers being the people behind "Nail Gun Massacre") thecinemasnob.com will
feature all of the Snob's videos, old and new, and also brand new shows and full length original movies for those of us who already can't get enough of Z-Grade Cinema.
Links
Mike Bracken
The Spoony One
Tenebrous Kate
Eccentric Cinema
ThatGuyWithTheGlasses
Cinemassacre
Revolving Video
Shaun Millington
Shriek Freak Arrow in the Head
Leslie Jones Blastoff Network
I Spit on Your Taste
Vault of Horror
Bloody Disgusting
Varied Celluloid
Patrick Rodriguez
Avante Garde Theatre
DjDaymage Halloween Mix
Cheap Arse Film Review
Forgotten Junk
Banned From the Video Store
The Experience Cinematic
Fistful of Cult
Video Hero's Hollywood Rant
The Horror Channel
Full Moon Reviews
SFHFF Review
The Spoony One
Tenebrous Kate
Eccentric Cinema
ThatGuyWithTheGlasses
Cinemassacre
Revolving Video
Shaun Millington
Shriek Freak Arrow in the Head
Leslie Jones Blastoff Network
I Spit on Your Taste
Vault of Horror
Bloody Disgusting
Varied Celluloid
Patrick Rodriguez
Avante Garde Theatre
DjDaymage Halloween Mix
Cheap Arse Film Review
Forgotten Junk
Banned From the Video Store
The Experience Cinematic
Fistful of Cult
Video Hero's Hollywood Rant
The Horror Channel
Full Moon Reviews
SFHFF Review
The Cinema Snob: Maniac
BlogAds
Support
Help Support The Cinema Snob!
Unfortunately my page hates donate buttons and the link doesn't work, but if you would like to help out The Cinema Snob, my Paypal account is under thecinemasnob@yahoo.com
Unfortunately my page hates donate buttons and the link doesn't work, but if you would like to help out The Cinema Snob, my Paypal account is under thecinemasnob@yahoo.com
I just saw this movie at a local independant movie theater! Awesome coincidence.
Reply to this
speaking of dark and violent, when are you going to give your thoughts on "human centipede 2?"
Reply to this
Im guessing Brad Jones really likes Maniac
Reply to this
I saw this movie a few years ago. I like the skeevy New York City aspect of it, but it was underwhelming as a serial killer movie.
The on-screen description of this movie said, "Maniac, he kills people."
Now, are there some readings we should have done about this movie? The Cinema Snob really laid on the sarcasm with this one. It seems very unnecessary and appears to be a reaction to something.
Reply to this
He teased this video in an interview. It's a satire of the reviews for the movie when it came out. Most of which were appalled at it's violence, even though it's a serial killer movie.
Reply to this
I see. I guess I found it obnoxious since this is one of the rare Cinema Snob movies that I've actually seen. I know what goes on in the movie and it hardly warrants harsh criticism. I also couldn't care less about what critics said about a movie that was released when I was a baby.
Reply to this
I get wholeheartedly that its snark attacking critics who missed the point of this film entirely. The problem however is that instead of finding several snarky jokes about the film, he's using the same joke over and over again... and that gets old.
That's why I had to click "dislike"
Reply to this
Completely disagree. He spoofed the critic's takes on not only the violence but the sex, the critics neglect of Frank's character arc, and looking for plotholes where there are no plotholes; plus as a commenter pointed out below, he used critical snark to mask compliments on the acting and the direction, while spoofing the role of a critic who is supposed to dislike the movie. This is one of his best episodes, and is very much like classic Snob.
Reply to this
Listen to Brad's latest Radiodrome episode on Siskel & Ebert's "Women In Danger" special, you'll understand where the sarcasm comes from
Reply to this
I listened to most of it, and I agree with his point, but I didn't think much of the subject matter as a whole. It looks to me like Brad recorded that for himself, as a way to finally express these thoughts on ignorant criticism of horror movies from that time. I guess this video was the ultimate goal of that Radiodrome episode. I think sending that Radiodrome to Roger Ebert and getting a response from him would be interesting. Over here, Brad is basically preaching to the choir.
Reply to this
We talked about horror criticism on that Radiodrome episode, but this was an episode I had in mind long before that Radiodrome. The entire point of The Cinema Snob character is to make fun of pretentious movie critics. Go back a few years and watch the Salo video. Or even Nekromantik or Night Dreams.
Reply to this
I have watched Nekromantic and Salo. Both were good and neither review had the repetitive sarcasm like your review of Maniac.
Like I said, I saw Maniac before, so I'm somewhat familiar with the movie. For it's genre, it's not a bad movie. You do make a good point about critics expecting such movies to be something other than what they are. To me, a bad movie is something hurts my brain with it's stupidity, like Transformers movies or the Inspector Gadget movie. Maniac is not such a movie.
So, on another subject, how about using the movie Young Einstein for your next episode of '80s Dan?
Reply to this
Watch the Salo video again. It is 100% sarcasm, with no riffing. The whole video was the Snob coming up with BS excuses as to why the movie was intelligent and metaphorical. And even with the pretentious critic attitude, there was PLENTY of riffing in the Maniac episode.
Reply to this
Well, God dammit. Maybe I should give this a watch.
Reply to this
Ya know, from the looks of that video, I'd say that Brad Jones wasn't a fan of critics...
Reply to this
I absolutely loved this review. This is the kind of stuff I always expected from the Snob, though he doesn't do it as often as I thought he would. Quite possibly my favorite Snob review.
Reply to this
LOL!!! The ending with Jerrid is so unexpected yet brilliant at the same time.
Let's hope Lustig himself has a good sense of humor when he sees this.
Reply to this
Haven't even watched half the review, but I have to say this episode is funny as hell. Beautiful snob sarcasm!
Reply to this
Loved this review Brad, you nailed this perfectly. And I LOLed so hard at Jerrid at the end.
Reply to this
This series keeps getting better and better. This along with the Cannibal Holocaust one stands out to me as some of the best
Reply to this
....What the Hell just happened? I want explanations! Why the hell is Jerrid in a toga spouting out bible verses? Did I miss something? Great review, bizarro ending not withstanding.
Reply to this
He's The Messiah from "The Tormentors"!!!
Reply to this
Dude...That wasn't really the bible. It's lyrics from the Beatles' "Let it Be." Paul...Mc Cartney?
Reply to this
Awesome, I just hope this means that a review of the quasi-sequel 'The Last Horror Show' (aka 'Fanatic') is just around the corner.
Reply to this
Oh no! Jerrid got turned into a late '60s youth evangelist.
Reply to this
This is almost like watching the origin story of the Cinema Snob.
Reply to this
Man, this movie sounds pretty cool! Like a Hannibal Lektor movie without the whole police tracking the killer side of the story! Hell, the whole thing with the killer that has mommy issues that goes after women and actually seems to nearly have real feelings for a woman is a lot like the killer from Red Dragon or Manhunter if you prefer the 80s version of the story!
Also, Tom Savini worked on it and he's one of my favorite in the effects field. I could definitely see his Living Dead work being used here!
Nice tongue stud!
Jerrid as hippy Jesus is awesome put that in more reviews!
Reply to this
That, sir, was fucking awesome! Jerrid especially, but Jillian was great too! Now that I've seen your review, I must go see Maniac! Thanks, Brad, I mean Cinema Snob, lol!
Reply to this
I'm taking that means the Snob and Wife are not Christian. Maybe I'm reading that wrong
Reply to this
You speak as though not being a "Christian" is a bad thing.
Reply to this
Your reading it the wrong way and your trying to come off as antagonizing. Mark was simply stating what seems to be the blatant obvious, like saying "Seems like Brad really likes 'Maniac'".
Reply to this
No. Mark is reading it wrong. Jerrid's role was meant to be a reference to The Messiah in "The Tormentors." Nothing more.
Reply to this
I thought Jerrid became the Messiah because he still had 20 more minutes before he got kicked out! Travesty!
Reply to this
Excellent review brad! This is among your best, if not your best review yet. I absolutely <3 your style. For halloween this year, I'm dressing up as the cinema snob
Reply to this
Best. Ending. Ever.
Reply to this
wow! i Jillian is awesome in this, top notch actress you snagged yourself Brad! and you are a very good movie maker.. lets just hope i can find a way to get your movie "paranoia" over to Norway without having to pay the insane taxes the norwegian goverment slaps on everything! keep up the outstanding snobbyness the world needs more profesional trolls like yourself!
Reply to this
GREAT review, Brad! You've really been firing on all 8 cylinders as of late, keep it up!
Reply to this
Cinema Snob's new catchphrase:
"Say...you mean women have both a vagina AND an anus?"
Reply to this
I hate to say it, but I found this a bit irritating. Yeah, I get it, but repeating "Why is this violent movie so violent?" for 25 straight minutes got really old quick.
Reply to this
That is hardly what this video was. This video perfectly satirized the fake outrage from the critics. From the violence to the sex, to critics not acknowledging the fx work or Spinell's great performance; as well as getting angry when there's no character development, then getting angry when there is. This is one of his best videos since "Salo." I loved when he overnitpicked things that were explained by the movie.
Reply to this
Are you doing a Brad Jones like parody of idiotic comment posters who must've been high while watching, given their wildly inaccurate description of the video? If not, still wonderful irony as you've bashed this video in exactly the same inaccurate way that critics bashed Maniac. If all your comments are this funny when you pay no attention to the actual video, please, watch less and post more. This is comedy gold.
Reply to this
Uh, no.
I was just saying that I thought the review was just one joke beaten to death. For over 20 minutes. I watched the whole thing and there wasn't much besides that. Way to assume otherwise, bub.
Also funny how I'm compared to the critics and lashed at because I didn't find the review that funny. You know, I kinda agreed with the Radiodrome guys on the critics rushing their judgement of this movie. It doesn't mean I can't criticize a movie with unnecesary shocking shit. Brad criticized Texas Chainsaw Massacre 3 for the armadillo killing, are you gonna tell him "What do expect in a killer film, derp"? Or are you just gonna ignore my point because I didn't like the episode as much as the other people here did?
But hey, I should comment here more if it gets your jollies off that much.
Reply to this
This episode was intelligent and, as another commenter put it, downright inspired. It was not the same joke repeated over and over again. He had a sarcastic tone throughout the episode, but when you actually listen to what he says, he's talking about completely different things every minute. Hell, the episode even included riffs of the movie. He nailed the stereotypical critic attitude regarding not just the violence, but the sex, the plotlines, and the character arcs.
Reply to this
"But hey, I should comment here more if it gets your jollies off that much."
Well, that confirms it.
You're just a troll who is willfully spouting bullshit in order to antagonize other commenters.
I thought that from the start with your comments, but now you just outright admitted you were trolling. Thanks for making it obvious that your opinion should be discredited and completely discounted as an obvious troll trying too hard to get a rise out of people.
Goodbye.
Reply to this
WOW.
I never knew Cinema Snob fans were as bad as the rest of TGWTG fans (esp. Spoony fans).
Like, as much as I enjoyed this video, I acknowledge NOT EVERYONE HAS TO LIKE IT BY DEFAULT.
This guy didn't like the video, and said why. Then people jump all over him like he started offering links to snuff films??!! WHAT!!
Seriously, the man is allowed to not like every Cinema Snob episode, get over it.
Reply to this
No, the problem is his criticism of the episode was inaccurate. There's plenty of episodes of things Brad has done that I didn't care for. But I wasn't incorrect about the content of the video.
Reply to this
Honestly, the people here really aren't as bad as on tgwtg or spoony's page. People on this page are actually having honest responses and defenses back and forth, instead of just simply saying "fuck you, you didn't like it, you suck."
Reply to this
How do you snob review a movie that's actually a well-made and appropriate serial killer film? But faking outrage of course! Well done Brad. Not since Caligula has the Snob so convincingly torn apart a perfectly acceptable sleaze film. Bravo!
Also, nice sequence at the end. Very suspenseful. It's almost like you're a film maker with experience in thrillers and exploitation films.
Reply to this
Last year, William Lustig came to my city for a Mini-Horror weekend our local Independent theatre had, He brought a new print of Maniac and hosted a Q&A afterwards. Met him after the show and he was very friendly and nice enough to sign my dvd copy!
I'm always happily surprised when I find Joe Spinell in a movie I watch and not have any idea he was supposed to be in it. I was watching Stay Hungry and was shocked to find him playing a real estate baron! And also seeing Robert Englund as a good guy. What a great find that one was.
Keep up the great work, Brad!
Reply to this
Very cool. This is pretty much a video to show people who want to know what the cinema snob is ... (or at least was originally conceived as), a film critic that slams exploitation movies for being exploitation movies. [I think the original inspiration was stated as an Ebert review of the original I Spit on Your Grave].
Reply to this
I liked Jerrid's cameo at the end. As for the actual review... does the phrase "straw man" mean anything to you?
Reply to this
It's clearly a spoof of the reception of "Maniac," not an actual representation.
Reply to this
Loved the Freak Out reference!
Reply to this
Gee, Brad, I can't tell what you really thought of this movie, or the critical reaction to it.
Great episode, and I bet wifey's happy not to be the bitch this time around.
Reply to this
Wow, seldom do I walk away from a Snob review really wanting to see the film on its own. This actually looks pretty good!
Great job with this one, Brad. You knocked it out of the park.
Reply to this
I'm assuming the people complaining about the heavy sarcasm aren't the ones who watch Cinema Snob episodes regularly, as they completely missed the point.
I loved it, and I really want to see this movie now. I jumped at the end when the cops came in and he opened his eye, now I've got the shivers, lol. Definitely one of my favorite Snob videos ^_^
Reply to this
I agree. This episode belongs with "Salo," "Cannibal Holocaust" and "Nekromantik" as one of the great satirical episodes of The Cinema Snob.
Reply to this
I've seen nearly every Snob video, and I wasn't a fan of this one. I get the idea, I get the point, but it felt overdone, hammered in to the point of repetition. No longer in the realm of funny, "I see what you did there" sarcasm, and more along the lines of "Okay, I think we get it now..". Never had this problem with Salo or other similar reviews. There, the "point" didn't overshadow all the other jokes, wasn't quite as blatant. I like Snob's trademark sarcasm, but I guess I just prefer it a bit more subtle and less on the nose. Oh well, can't like 'em all I guess. xD Looking forward to more videos.
Reply to this
great review.I love this movie and that subway scene always scares the hell out of me
Reply to this
Ah Sarcasm..such a wonderful thing to use. Especially when it shows just how silly over-reactiveness from critics is.
Reply to this
"Now who's going to do the fucking makeup effects?!" x-D
This review was hilarious and it totally made my night! I think this goes down as one of the greatest ones yet, and I hope you can get around to doing a commentary for it!
Reply to this
You forgot to mention how the mannequins were CLEARLY meant to be a metaphor in response to the women's movement ;P
Great review, as always, Mr. Snob
Reply to this
oh great, the one time when I want you to black box a pair of boobs. You didn't. Now we get a face full of MAN BOOBS AGH *eyes bleed*
Great review as always! xD
Reply to this
Sharon Mitchell cameo! If it gets more sleazier than this you fuckin' die!
Reply to this
HEY! THAT'S MY MANIMAL COMIC! DID YOU REPLICATE IT OR SOMETHING? NOW THERE'S TWO OF THEM! THEY'LL BREED IN THE SEWERS AND TAKER OVER THE WORLD! RUN FOR YOUR LIFE!!!
Reply to this
I'll never forget the first time that I saw MANIAC. During a long break between college courses (Abnormal Psychology and Human Growth & Development), I took the bus to the nearby mall and bought the VHS (from Anchor Bay). Then I watched it on one of the TV/VCR monitors in the library (I didn't get caught BTW). Since then, I got the Limited Edition DVD (with the soundtrack shaped like Joe Spinell's head) and last year's 30th Anniversary Blu-Ray! This review is one of the funniest I've seen this year! The parts with Jillian and Jerrid were hilarious! I'll be watching my MANIAC Blu-Ray as part of a triple-feature with MADMAN and NIGHTMARE (IN A DAMAGED BRAIN) soon!
Reply to this
Meh.. sorry, not a favorite this one. Making fun of the hypocrisy of the reviewers who hated this movie was fun in the start, but it gets somewhat tiresome when you do it for twenty minutes. It felt like I a was getting beat over the head with the sarcasm.
Reply to this
Awesome
Jerrid was hialrious ^^
Thanks for the review Brad
Reply to this
Jesus the sarcasm brad! This time its of the charts! Btw i would totally watch a horror movie with Jarrid being the messiah and walking to peoples houses!
Reply to this
One question; what was that clip at the end with young Spielberg from and who's the guy that's singing his praises?
Reply to this
I liked this episode, though I can understand people saying the joke got played out a little too long. The most surprising thing in the episode (Besides Jerrid's appearance) was that Siskel and Ebert liked Henry-Portrait of a Serial Killer? I thought they'd hate it.
If anything this review made me want to watch Maniac and Henry to compare them; the clips from Maniac didn't come across as especially sleazy (I'd call this film gory, though; when I think sleaze, I think strip clubs, gratuitous nudity, drugs, etc.) and looked like it's a pretty psychological movie.
Reply to this
Henry: Portrait of a Serial Killer is an overall better movie than Maniac.
I thought that Maniac really wasn't as sleazy as I expected it to be. It was underwhelming.
Henry: Portrait of a Serial Killer is more a straight-forward movie. The Henry character has, in a way, a few redeeming qualities, if you can call them that. You might not have seen the movie so I don't want to spoil anything.
Reply to this
Mr. Brad Jones, I GET IT OK, PLEASE STOP, PLEASE?
I love your stuff, but this is clearly you indulging in your dislike of the critical reaction to the type of movies you enjoy. You're whining here, under the guise of satire and that's annoying, especially when you're driving your point in a way that's akin to using a nuke to kill an ant. Good satire is not a nuke, don't lecture us on why the critics are wrong via the same joke over and over. This was a chore to sit through, please don't do this again.
And yeah you'll probably ignore this and call me a whiny nitpicker, and other fans will tell me to shut the fuck up, but yeah, I want to be entertained, and whining to me about how some movies from the 70/80s got mistreated by creating a video solely dedicated to whiny jabs at professional critics is not funny.
Yeah Mr. Jones, I get it. You like your movies and you wish people wouldn't unfairly attack them for not being Citizen Kane. You made a 25 minute satire on how the critics mistreat these films. Now, can you stop crusading, please?
Reply to this
thats the whole point of this entire series and its nice of him to make an episode for his more hardcore fans. i was frankly getting tired of porn movie reviews, you new tgwtg hoppers might like them but people like me miss the old snob and this video was perfect and showed us that brad still has it. the only other reviews i enjoyed 100% lately were necromantik and the cannibal holocaust review. the others had funny moments but didnt feel right.
Reply to this
Oh man, this is just a SMALL fraction of his bitching, there are WHOLE EPISODES OF RADIODROME where he does this.
Reply to this
I think you're confusing Brad with Josh. Brad is actually very calm and well spoken on that show.
Reply to this
This episode IS The Cinema Snob.
Reply to this
I'm sorry Mr. Jones, but this is The Cinema Snob if you took the wit and cleverness out of the character, put him on a soap box, and added in bitterness(and rather authentic bitterness). This episode is a Cinema Snob episode unbalanced, and not in a good way.
Yes, it's not fair that critics and other authorities take cheap shots at these type of movies (I enjoyed Maniac when I watched it a few years back, and I watched Caligula because of your love for it), and it's obvious that their anger is mostly manufactured, but trying to spoof it THIS way is not entertaining or clever, and kinda makes you look a little petty. Sorry, that's just how it's coming off.
Reply to this
Apologies. It's not meant to be soap boxy, it's meant to be a spoof. At the end of the day, this episode is meant to be a companion piece to the Salo episode, in which the character came up with BS reasons as to why the graphic movie was good, and in this one he's coming up with BS reasons as to why the graphic movie is bad. Both of which reflect the actual critics receptions of those movies.
Reply to this
I never saw your Salo review, though I have seen it on archive list. I haven't watched that review because I want to watch the movie without it getting spoiled, but at the same time Salo has a reputation for being pretty fucked up so I haven't built up the nerve to watch it yet.
I feel that I came off as too strongly worded and I do apologize for that. While I don't quite enjoy this video, I do enjoy the vast majority of your work and I do count you as one of the best comedy reviewers on the net. Sometimes these things really boil down to preference, but I think as long as people are civil about it, that agreeing to disagree is a perfectly good way to leave things. If only the critics would try that instead of trashing quality exploitation films.
Anyway, keep up the great work, and I'll definitely continue to look forward to your next releases.
Reply to this
You apologize for being strongly worded? No, no, no, Mr. Vinyl. You're doing it all wrong.
If you are attempting to be an outright antagonizing douchebag troll with severe entitlement issues (and let's be honest, that's exactly what you were trying to do), you're not supposed to troll Brad's video and THEN get apologetic.
You're SUPPOSED to continue to maintain your self-centered, elitist position, and further antagonize every other commenter that dares to reply to you with some actual common sense. Not to actually apologize for actually being whiny and in the wrong.
You're the worst troll ever. Geez. I remember a time when trolls were still full of crap, but at least didn't flip-flop. You wouldn't make it a day on 4chan with this pitiful trolling rhetoric.
Reply to this
LOL!! That was brilliant satire in and of itself, beneath a video full of brilliant satire!!
Reply to this
OK , Jesus Jerrid should make more cameos in your show. XD
Reply to this
A movie about a psychotic maniac strangling hookers? Tasteless! I'll stick to the more wholesome films like Midnight Heat, thank you very much!
Reply to this
I was kind of expecting our dear snob to let out a roar and go Super Snob there at one moment.
Reply to this
I've watched at least 90% of your videos. This vid is dead on why I love watching you. I'm pretty sure this is the best one yet, and I'm not just jerkin' you off... If I wanted to introduce the "Snob" to someone, this is the vid I would show them.
Thanks for all the content! I'm sure I can speak for all of us when I say we appreciate the entertainment.
Reply to this
I've been watching the Cinema Snob for a long time, and I've never left a comment before. Except above where I think I was too harsh and I apologize. A little. A VERY small amount. Because that's why I'm posting: For some reason, probably because it was so damn funny and smart, the flak this episode has garnered in the comments really, really angers me. And the thing is, it isn't coming from the guys who don't realize the Snob is a character. That I would understand, as this episode might shake their understanding of what they're watching. No, it's coming from people who seem to actually understand what the Snob is doing, and hated it... just because? Sure you can say it's repetitive when it's not (and it's not), or complain about a sarcastic video being sarcastic but... oh damn, there's that irony again. I know: it's something different, and thus you must hate it, fulfilling the belligerent fan prime directive. Because that's what it is. None of the negative comments really had a point, other than to whine in a shrill and glass breaking manner that this wasn't the same as the last Snob video. I mean if you don't enjoy it, you don't enjoy it, and that's perfectly acceptable. But by Gods this was well done, and hilarious. This is the Cinema Snob, not MST3K. He can do more that riff the film. Hell, he's been a parody character this entire time, and this is dead on what that character would say.
Please, Brad Jones, if you read this, ignore that malarky and continue being original and funny, like you did here. It's really one of your best.
Reply to this
Dammit. Lost a long comment. Oh well, in brief:
Long time viewer, first time commenting,
except above where I was a little harsh.
Sorry about that, but the comments here angered me.
This was very funny, well done, and intelligent,
and belligerent fans decided to piss on it just because it wasn't the same thing the Snob did last time. That's purely it. There's no other point to the whining. Vinyl Lettertbox pretty much said as much, while adding the classic "you're a jerk if you criticize me" gambit. Thanks, Socrates. God, does everything have to be slop for the dumbest common denominator? Can we not have some acerbic, intelligently sarcastic entertainment? Sorry, there I go again. This really, really angers me. And no, the Cinema Snob has never been slop for idiots. But I have a feeling that if some got their way...
And that really pisses me off!
In conclusion: Brad, if you should read this, please ignore the whining. This is some of your best work, and thats saying a lot because the Cinema Snob is always hilarious. Keep being original and surprising. Most of us like it.
Reply to this
Intelligent entertainment? Are you fucking kidding me?
CONGRATS, YOU'RE BEING PRETENTIOUS ABOUT A FUCKING INTERNET REVIEWER. ONE THAT LAMPOONS IT.
What the fuck.
Reply to this
Haha, oh wow.
Reply to this
So I guess we have a different interpretation of "intelligent." See, I think this show is VERY intelligent. Making fun of pretentious asses usually is. Which is exactly what he's doing here, and is exactly what I'm applauding and defending. So, exactly how is what I'm saying pretentious? Did I say I wanted high-brow anything? Are we saying that "trashy" must be stupid? Go read a few Bizzaro books, or watch Videodrome. Also, your capslock appears to be stuck.
Reply to this
So I guess we have a different interpretation of "intelligent." See, I think this show is VERY intelligent. Making fun of pretentious asses usually is. Which is exactly what he's doing here, and is exactly what I'm applauding and defending. So, exactly how is what I'm saying pretentious? Did I say I wanted high-brow anything? Are we saying that "trashy" must be stupid? Go read a few Bizzaro books, or watch Videodrome. Also, your capslock appears to be stuck.
Also again: Internet reviewer? Um, try a parody character riff show.
Reply to this
hilarious stuff. very enjoyable.
Reply to this
I liked this. Awesome film, awesome parody and awesome cameo at the end. Next time Jesus Jerrid shows up, he should be joined by disciple R.O.B. in matching costume. Because you have to top yourself.
I don't understand the hell you're catching for this. It's The Snob being what made you create The Snob.
Ladies and gentlemen, what you just watched is Snob on a level so high that I am surprised the video didn't get converted to black and white part way through. Some people just can't handle the snobness in it's most pure form... go back to your other, lesser snobby review sites then. Weaklings.
You'd think brad had made a mediocre Let's Play of a Simpsons game or something, with all the hate around here.
Also... I want more of the Snob gleefully torturing people with movie soundtracks.
Reply to this
yes because some comments in a sea of dicksucking is "hate all around here". I do welcome experimenting and the whole subplot going on.
Reply to this
yes because some comments in a sea of dicksucking is "hate all around here". I do welcome experimenting and the whole subplot going on.
Also the "mediocre LP" thing was a test of patience. The fact that the man fucking makes 6 figures off that shit is a bigger insult tho.
Reply to this
That was absolutely fucking brilliant!
I loved how your Radiodrome episode pointed out the hypocrisy and double standards that aren't all that rare even in modern reviews and this one had me laughing all the way through
Reply to this
This was fun as a one-off, but I think I prefer it when the Snob is sporking genuinely bad/weird/tacky/campy/WTF movies, rather than mocking the critical reception of a pretty good movie that critics just didn't get. Because it's the movie you're showing us, not Siskel's reaction to it.
I get that critics totally missing the point is what inspired the Snob, but this got kinda boring because, well... you weren't really talking about the movie.
Also, I choose to believe that the version of Jillian who's married to the Snob just accepts musical cues as a part of her everyday life. Like the Crystal Pepsi plumbing.
Reply to this
Loved it, one of your best reviews so far : )
Reply to this
Damnit, you made me google Alabama Hot Pocket. I didn't wanna know that!
Reply to this
Oh, man, I just did the same thing. I really don't want to know why Brad knows these phrases.
BTW, best Jerrid cameo ever! Your friends/family are all really talented Brad!
Reply to this
"This is really a very fascinating post, thank you for sharing!
You will find numerous blogs on this topic
but this 1 states precisely what I think also."
Reply to this
I'm so glad you started off the review with "Going To A Showdown". With all the graphic imagery in the movie, this song is usually the thing that gets stuck in my head the most.
Reply to this
Seems somebody spent some time thinking about critics and slasher movies. And talking about it. On some radioshow or another.
It sure lead to pure, unaltered Cinema Snobbing....
Reply to this
This was fun as a one-off, but I think I prefer it when the Snob is sporking genuinely bad/weird/tacky/campy/WTF movies, rather than mocking the critical reception of a pretty good movie that critics just didn't get. Because it's the movie you're showing us, not Siskel's reaction to it. That's why the Radiodrome episode worked, and this didn't as much.
I get that critics totally missing the point is what inspired the Snob, but this got kinda boring because, well... you weren't really talking about the movie.
Also, I choose to believe that the version of Jillian who's married to the Snob just accepts musical cues as a part of her everyday life. Like the Crystal Pepsi plumbing.
Reply to this
I love this review! It beautifully illustrates the impetus behind the Cinema Snob character.
I think that many of the negative comments here come from people who don't remember the pre-internet days when effete movie critics could dismiss the artistic merits of a film based solely on their prudish, narrow minded views. Theirs was the only voice that was heard - and there is no doubt that this negatively affected the box office returns of many good movies throughout the 70s and 80s. These critics deserve to be bashed to hell with their own hypocrisy, even if it is a little late in coming.
Over the several years that Brad has done the Snob character he's kept the concept from getting stale , branching out and trying new things while staying true to what makes the Snob hilarious and entertaining. That's what keeps me coming back to this website.
Reply to this
One of your funniest reviews. Please do a review of Anthropophagus or Switchblade Sisters.
Reply to this
I'm shocked so many people didn't like this review. I'll agree that its a little long but this really feels like an older Snob episode. I think it was a perfect take on the Women in Danger episode of Siskel and Ebbert featured in Radiodrome. The only thing you missed is the comment that Maniac is CLEARLY a response by conservative film makers to the women's lib movement.
Reply to this
Best Cinema Snob Review so far. You really nailed, what´s just dumb about the criticism on this one.
Personally, i found this movie to be quite depressing - which is exactly, what a serial killer movie should be.
(excuse my english, i´m from europe)
Reply to this
Another classic, Sir!
Reply to this
Nice touch on the Shotgun reference at 5:43.
Reply to this
Ah, that was fun. I love when the snob gets like this. The whole attitude of "Well critics hate this movie so I of course hate it as well." There was a kid like this when I was in high school, except he was serious. Poor bastard. Thanks for quality free entertainment Brad. Also the Jillian parts were great.
Reply to this
my brain is suffering sarcasm and irony overload...... need bacon
Reply to this
Brilliant! Reviewing a good movie, and mocking the critics of the time of it, instead of the movie!
Fantastic!
Reply to this
With the exception of the last two minutes Maniac is a fucking fantastic movie. One of the few movie you've reviewed as The Snob that I know and love.
Reply to this
This is probably my favorite of your satires on movie critics. I love the film too. Such a scary and disturbing piece.
The ending sketch was very funny too!
Reply to this
Poor Jillian. I hate those days where creepy 80's music stalks you and out pops Jesus. Happens every other Thursday...
Reply to this
but was Lloyd ok?
Reply to this
I don't understand why film critics like Salo and hate movies like Maniac. I really hope that someone can come up with an explanation.
With regards to the review, it is really similar to the Salo review in mocking movie critics. Except that unlike the Salo review, the Cinema Snob is mocking how critics hate films like Maniac.
Reply to this
I'm not from English speaking country, so please forgive me possible mistakes.
According to wikipedia and some sites about music, Sembello's "Maniac" wasn't written especially for Lustig's movie, but it was just influenced by this film (Sembello even writes about in the comments for this article: http://www.songfacts.com/detail.php?id=806 ). So please tell me, what version of this story is real?
Reply to this
Bravo, this is one of your best reviews so far. Reminds me of how Siskel & Ebert bashed Silent Night, Deadly Night solely on the basis of making a horror movie about Christmas. That's one of the best serial killer movies I've ever seen.
Reply to this
Wow, that was a really good film. No doubt the best you've reviewed on this show, though that probably sounds more backhanded than I meant it. :p
I might try to find a copy of it, actually.
Reply to this
I cannot believe that the name I've been using for the past 15 years is also the title of a 1980 horror film starring probably one of the finest actors of all time...
Oh and Jillian was really hot in this.
Reply to this
I must say that the Cinema Snob style of review is good for reviewing a movie that's actually good, or at least liked by the reviewer.
Most of the Cinema Snob reviews have been of movies that are genuinely bad, Child Bride, the Talking Vagina Quadrilogy, etc. It's easy to see how this review of Maniac is throwing people off when it comes to the Cinema Snob reviews.
Reply to this
I thought this episode was great - having just listened to that Radiodrome episode last week - I completely got everything you were going for, it might have been a little more sarcastic than usual, but it didn't seem out of place as the perfect companion/follow up to the podcast episode.
I've never seen the movie in the review before, but from the few clips that were shown it looks like a genuinely disturbing movie. The titular maniac LOOKS crazy and very believable.
Reply to this
This is a quintessential snob episode.
Surprised people are complaining, this has been the character since you began on youtube.
Maniac is an effective movie, Joe Spinell is great in it and i think you showed it off well in this episode while ripping on bad critics.
I guess people want more conventional reviews where you joke and make fun of a bad movie, this was more about showing of the film in a fair light for what it is, a sleazy new york serial killer film, and making fun of the critics while doing so.
loved it.
Reply to this
Wow. This is the second movie Brad's reviewed as the Snob that I own (the first being Pink Flamingos). On Blu-Ray, no less...
If there was any doubt what Brad was ever intending to do with the Snob character from Day 1, this review should silence it.
Reply to this
I laughed harder than I did at all of Bridesmaids at the line "Whoa, whoa, whoa, This has sex in it too?!?"
Reply to this
Snob, I LOVE this review! it's the perfect companion to your Salo review and I... I loved maniac! such a great low budget psychological thriller with amazing effects and a well thought out script not to mention so of the best suspense of the horror genre. Very clever review sir, thank you for this
Reply to this
I loved this. It was a perfect parallel to the radiodrome episode about Siskel and Ebert. You've addressed a lot of issues that I have with mainstream critics over the years and you've just totally nailed it. I applaud you good sir.
Reply to this
This was my favorite Cinema Snob in a LONG time. Did you make it special for Halloween or something? I thought some parts were downright inspired.
Reply to this
Wow, this is the second time you called out Sikel and Ebert (Ebert in your Caligula review) But then you really are a much better, and much more entertaining critic.
Reply to this
It reminds me of how I feel about Silent Night Deadly Night which I love, because I like it how the main character is being all tormented by phobia and finally snapping.
The psychological stuff is what makes me like it among some other things, like the crazy grandpa who made the main character all paranoid.
I like it because I get to see someone break with all the details up to that point.
He sees and hears the wrong things and it makes me pity the killer. He could've turned out to be a really nice guy.
And yeah I think both Siskel and Ebert hated that movie for the violence.
Of course people are allowed to have their opinions it's just.. when you like something in this way, it's like you can enjoy the deep meanings of a painting and then someone brushes it aside because it's too colorful or not like the other paintings.
That was probably very offensive to say I am so sorry.
Reply to this
Great review Brad, and the ending made me literally laugh out loud! I love Beatles references.
Reply to this
As vaguely Taxi Driver influenced slashers go I always preferred Tool Box Murders. The gore in maniac is startling and Joe Spinell delivers a great sweaty psycho study but there is no way that bloke would ever pull Caroline Munro. Then again I never thought Travis Bickle and Cybill Shepperd was convincing either.
Reply to this
Im going to take a guess and say you actually liked this movie, lol. Oddly, this is one of the few notorious 80's slashers I havent seen....Now I think I must check it out.
Reply to this
That was great. It was nice to see someone point out the hypocrisy of critics bitching about the violence and sleaziness of this flick when IT WAS SUPPOSED TO BE VIOLENT AND SLEAZY!!! It's like bitching out a Disney flick for being family-friendly.
Coincidentally, I put "Maniac" as my next Netfilx flick (Halloween mood, you understand) and this review certainly makes me eager to see it. It does look rather well made for a slasher flick (it actually seems to have something to say other than just "let's kill as many horny teens as we can"), it's got Savini doing the effects (and getting his head blown off) and it's got Joe Spinell, one of the best "Hey It's That Guy!" character actors in history.
Oh and I laughed my ass off at the line: "It's okay, honey! I'm fine having Willi Cicci from 'The Godfather' watch us!"
Reply to this
You call that a gut?
here ya go:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=evCj25UtfLM
oh Phil Collins...
Reply to this
Thanks for the excellent review with classic stylish snobbiness Mr.Brad. Loved how you got across more and more how MANIAC was creeping you out as it has many of us.
This movie really validated my fear of Times Square and 42nd street as a child when i first saw it on video as an adult in the 1990s. It was like watching a Herschell Gordon Lewis movie for the first time but with a sense of nearness.
Reply to this
I get that this is parody, but the sarcasm does get grating after awhile. It got to the point where it was the joke, rather than facilitating jokes. Oh well, some people liked this and some people didn't obviously.
Reply to this
I know right. I HATE it when he does an intelligent episode.
Reply to this
Hey great review snob. But I have a movie I think you will enjoy reviewing it call the Abomination here the trailer for it http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=k190MFLK0Q0. Really hope to see this in a future review
Reply to this
I might actually watch this sometime. Unlike most Snob videos, this movie actually DOES look like a good film (although like all Snob videos, the movie has a weird film quality that just bugs me); and I did like Henry: Portrait of a Serial Killer. Sometimes gore squicks me out, but this actually looks like it wouldn't be too much to handle. Nice video, by the way, probably my favorite non-DVR Hell video of yours.
Reply to this
I think this is one of your best videos, Brad. It had me laughing pretty much throughout the entire thing. I love to see you play up the "snob" part of the Cinema Snob's character (Death Bed is one of my favorite episodes), and the parts with Jillian are hilarious.
Reply to this
You've reviewed soo many of the shit bucket, video store horror movies that me and my friends used to rent.....Maniac was one of the few that actually disturbed our 16 year old jaded horror minds at the time.
Reply to this
I couldn't make it through this review. I quit at about the halfway mark.
I'm sorry to say it, because I am a huge fan of your videos, but this one wasn't any good from what I watched. It's just all focused on one joke. Even when you've exaggerated the snob in the past, you tackled more angles and topics than simply making the same joke over and over again. It really killed this review for me.
Not that you couldn't have reviewed this movie, but this would have made a better episode of DVR-Hell than the Cinema Snob.
Hope your next review is up to standard.
Reply to this
You are flat out wrong. This episode tackled the violent, the sex, the performances, the effects, and the characters. And it did so with the biting parody of a film critic. Much in the way the "Salo" episode praised bullshit excuses as to why that movie was good. That's like saying all the jokes in his other videos are the same because he's angry and yelling. Also, he did still riff on this movie. He was just more clever about it.
Reply to this
I understand the parody. It was just over-explained and went on for such a long time that it ruined the review.
A parody is better subtle than it is overbearing. And in this review, it started strong and got unbearable.
And don't be a condescending jackass and try to explain what you THINK I can't understand.
Reply to this
I don't THINK you can't understand it. The strongness of his attitude directly reflected the over-dramatic and extremely strong vocal criticisms of this film upon the movie's 1980 release. That's why he's so "shocked and offended" in this video.
Reply to this
This was probably my favorite Cinema Snob episode ever. Seriously hilarious, particularly the `being pursued music' bits! And now I _really_ want to see this movie.
Reply to this
Really good episode. Cleverly written and funny.
Reply to this
Oh wow. You hit a home run with this one, Brad. Fucking bravo, man. I was laughing my nuts off through the entire thing.
I do feel like you missed an opportunity to reference Telly Savalas in On Her Majesty's Secret Service when you were talking about Christmas movies though. "Merry Christmas, 007!"
Reply to this
I just waded through a sea of comments, and I'm pretty shocked...
very few props for Jillian!
Jillian, you've got an awesome scream! That was fucking great! Kudos to you, man!
As for the episode, ok, a little repetitive (you did make the joke about being shocked there was violence in a serial killer movie quite a few times). But hey, that is not a problem, still very funny, I was snickering all the way through. The skits with the musical clips were genius.
I think what people tend to forget is that you're doing some fine satire and parody here, Brad. You don't do what so many other reviewers do, which is just recap a movie. I can't stand that. Four years after hopping on the internet reviewer bandwagon, and you're the only person I still watch faithfully. You're still keeping it fresh, it's your show, and it's still fantastic. I also appreciate this episode as a counterpoint to Salo, that's a fine pair of sleazy, sleazy bookends.
P.s. Speaking of Sleazy, how 'bout "New York Ripper" sometime?
Reply to this
Alright Snob, we get it, the critics knocked the movie for being tasteless. Ok, enough already. Go ahead and mention it and mock it once or twice but don't go on and on about it for 10 minutes. This is the first review of yours I couldn't finish.
Reply to this
I agree. I hate it when he does smart, intelligent, satirical episodes. It's almost like he's been a spoof of film critics this whole time! Surely videos like the "Salo" episode or the "Night Dreams" episode aren't great examples. No no, just be another cookie cutter angry reviewer, that's what I want!
Reply to this
It wasn't smart or intelligent, it was just repetitive.
Or do you think that satire is intelligent when the guy doing it is spoon feeding it to you?
This episode was clearly made for peeps at TGWTG, because only they would need a joke beaten to death this badly for it to be funny.
Reply to this
Hey, I agree with you! Even though he was saying different things each time, and broke down every piece of criticism about the movie while still riffing the movie, but hey! He said it all in a sarcastic tone! That clearly means it's the same joke. It isn't like his other episodes contain an angry tone all throughout them, which obviously make those repetitive too. Nope, boo, this one's different, I hate it.
Reply to this
Asshole, did you even watch it? Every joke was the same sarcastic: "I don't want my horror/serial killer/exploitation movies to be dark/violent/seedy" joke with different words and a slightly different delivery. And every delivery made sure that you knew that he was being incredibly sarcastic for way too long.
Nobody is too stupid to see that he was being sarcastic. That's why I didn't like this review, because Brad doesn't normally act like his viewers don't understand sarcasm and attempt make it really obvious with long drawn out, non-funny jokes.
It was boring. A usual Cinema Snob video is fast paced and isn't so god damn focused on making fun of other reviewers for the ENTIRE video.
He beat the joke to death and it wasn't even that funny in the first place because the joke is obvious. The Cinema Snob character has made the joke hundreds of times, and every one was more subtle and didn't linger. This felt like Brad getting so angry that he overpowered the Cinema Snob character in favor of angry sarcasm.
Reply to this
Why you mad bro! I agree with you! I likes the simpler episodes. Plus, it's not like Brad said that this episode was a follow up to the "Salo" episode from 3 years ago where the character was overly pretentious on why the movie was good, and here he's overly pretentious on why the movie was bad, directly mirroring the actual 1980 criticisms of the movie. Nope, not at all, bad episode, bad.
Reply to this
Except that the Salo review was funny and this wasn't.
And if that's your idea of amusing sarcasm than I see why you thought this was entertaining.
Reply to this
Disagree with Ted. I thought this episode brought the character back to being the critical satire it started out as. I actually liked this episode better than the Salo one. The Salo episode was great, but it was all in character sarcasm. This one was a mixture of the sarcasm, the riffing, and Jerrid and Jillian's bits were fantastic. I'd put this in my top 10 Snob episodes.
Reply to this
Goddamn I love you Nitpicker Nick.
Reply to this
you should review a weird 80s movie called the dentist it would be kinnda like this movie its about a dentist (obviously) who has a wive that cheats on him then starts taking it out on his patients and her
Reply to this
Best one of these episodes I've seen in quite a while. He actually tries to act like a snob and then spoof that rather than just another angry reviewer in this one. It's similar to his older episodes which I liked better.
And the nurse running for her life with the Michael Sembello "Maniac" song in the background was some great black humor!
Reply to this
Poor Mrs. Snob getting trolled like that all the time.
Must say though... you really drove your point home with this one XD Maybe a little too much XD
Though I must say this is the first real movie I want to see that you've done.
I saw Caligula just because I just had too just to experience it myself, and if I find a copy of Nudist Colony of the dead then sure, but this one looks really interesting.
But maybe that's because I dig character studies of complicated cruel people, which is partially why Clockwork Orange is my fave movie and the book is very high on my favorite books list.
Reply to this
Love it. One of my fav cinema snob vids yet.
Fuck the haters. You drove home a point that needed to be driven home.
Reply to this
One could legitimately criticize the ending of Maniac in the cops turn around and leave without so much as checking the body, unless of course you left a half-hour into the movie and didn't see that part. This was one of your better "reviews," Cinema Snob.
Reply to this
I really really enjoyed this review, it was a very pleasant departure from the normal this-movie-is-dreadful reviews that are the staple. As well as a great callback to the old Salo/Caligula reviews. The critic satire was enjoyable and I liked watching the Cinema Snob character try so hard to hate a really excellent slasher film.
Reply to this
Well, they're remaking it with A-List actors so I guess The Snob is allowed to like it now.
http://www.aintitcool.com/node/51848
Reply to this
Apparently this movie is being remade with Elijah Wood as the killer.
Reply to this
You're not particularly amusing when you're sucking off a mediocre slasher.
Reply to this
Dont know what the opening theme is but why would you replace it Snob why!?
Reply to this
It's a song from the movie. He's done that a couple times in the past.
Reply to this
Thanks for taking the time to discuss this, I feel strongly about it and love learning more on this topic. If possible, as you gain expertise, would you mind updating your blog with more information? It is extremely helpful for me.
Reply to this
Woah woah woah woah. You have two copies of the mananimal comic?
Reply to this
großartig
Reply to this
Great review, Snob! Saw this movie on IFC UNRATED. Watch it many times because the gore effects were wicked. Points for that. Acting was serious and spot on sleazy.
Your sarcastic review was great because you're showing that idiotic critics that review a film simply because of their opinionated disgust in it and not on all factors that make it interesting to watch. For me, it warranted about 4 viewings. Great stuff.
Reply to this
They're makin a reamake of Maniac with Elijah Wood as Frank. Here's a trailer:
http://youtu.be/Nmgg7c-E6YA
Reply to this