Member Takuma Posted September 21, 2021 Member Share Posted September 21, 2021 Premiered at Yubari last week. I'll try to have my review ready by tomorrow! 3 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Member Takuma Posted September 23, 2021 Author Member Share Posted September 23, 2021 (edited) This is a bit of a hastily put together review, but here goes: It's good for a film to show its true colors in the very beginning. Maniac Driver opens with a leather-gloved, motorbike-helmet wearing killer stalking a naked woman who is touching herself in the shower. "A Japanese Giallo" appears on screen before the killer pulls out his knife out and rams it through hear breast, after first slicing her nipple in half. All is set to an unmistakably retro 80s score and against a psychedelic colour design. It's a little questionable if a film that features little mystery, and reveals the killer's identity in its opening scene, matches the expectations of a "pure" giallo. But that's debatable. What's more important to note is that Maniac Driver isn't going to challenge Deep Red, or really even Tenebre, but rather Strip Nude for Your Killer. Director Kurando Mitsutake has clearly set his aim at the sleaziest genre film imaginable, and in that regard, oh boy, does he deliver. The film's title driver is a mentally disturbed Tokyo cabbie searching for a sacrificial victim to die with. Flashbacks reveal his wife fell under the knife of a masked killer. Now the driver has gotten himself an identical outfit and a blade, and is seeking to perform an ecstatic knife murder that would provide him with a release and let him also take his own life. Mitsutake is best known for his genre-celebrations. The samurai spaghetti tribute Samurai Avenger: The Blind Wolf (2009) crumbled under the weight of its near-endless genre references, but the subsequent Gun Woman (2014) and Karate Kill (2016) found a voice of their own while paying loving tribute to other films. Now Mitsutake goes heavy on borrowing from his influences again. The New York Ripper and other gialli are present here, as are Maniac (1980) and its remake (2012). Evil Dead Trap (1988) comes to mind in one scene, and the helmet is probably sourced from Nightmare Beach (1989). There's even a brief samurai swordfight, that soon turns into Nikkatsu style SM-sleaze featuring a "noble lady" (actually hostess, but the costume and attitude are about the same) not too different from Flower and Snake. (1974) or Wife to be Sacrificed (1974). Pink films are the film's 2nd important reference. There are two long sex scenes (complete with slow-motion bouncing boobs) and two shorter solo-sex scenes, in addition to which all women (every single one, minus the extras) lose their robe, particularly at the time of their death. Some might feel inclined to call the director a misogynist! But this isn't a film for them anyway. And the skin springs from deeper down the film's production roots. Mitsutake says he was originally offered a pink film to direct, with supposedly unlimited artistic freedom. However, the financing fell apart on the last moment when the company fully realized what Mitsutake was about to shoot for them and started imposing restrictions. Mitsutake walked out and shot the script as it was without the studio, with producer Mami Akari pulling the necessary funds out of her own pocket. The cast remained unchanged, explaining why every actress in the film is an AV performer (and not quite A-listers either). The resulting film is, uhm, a maniac mixture of sleazy sexsploitation and low-budget knifing. The filmmakers identify Maniac Driver as a giallo, and in that regard the film sets itself against some cinematic masterpieces whose production values it couldn't dream of approaching. For instance, the lighting in the murder scenes is pure 70s Argento, but with the limited production values it comes out more like Hobo with a Shotgun. That's not saying the scenes aren't fun to watch, however, as Mitsutake rocks at mixing music with images. What we have here appears even more impressive once you learn Mitsutake had to shoot the film in just 4½ days (the last shooting session was 50 hours non-stop, he says)! Another weakness is that the film doesn't invest as much in suspense as it does in totally overdone exploitation. Maniac Driver is actually at its best in some of its quieter moments, such as when the melancholic cabbie is cruising in the Tokyo night (with some great time-lapse footage) or practicing his knife combos in from of a mirror gleaning in red and blue. Only Mitsutake he had exercised similar restraint in the murder scenes and refrained from having the driver appear butt naked behind a victim's door and then chase her while rock music plays and his balls are hanging out (though an admirable scene on its own, sort of!), the suspense might have been on a whole different level. Thematically one of the film's most interesting aspects is - the way I perceived it at least - is just how much the main characters comes out as homicidal incel. I wonder if it was a pure coincidence that the maniac, whose narrator voice babbles about the mad society, men and women, and his desire to kill people before he takes his own life, commits his first murder in mid-October 2019. That about a week after incel landmark film Joker opened in Japanese theaters. Perhaps a coincidence. Maniac Driver is a bit of a tough one to evaluate. It takes its exploitation to the point of being ridiculous, feasts in low-budget aesthetics, and really dives deep in the pink end of the pool. There are bits that I think miss the mark, such as the convoluted climax and closing the film on a pink note. Gialli have been done better before, including the Japanese one (Zoom In: Sex Apartments, 1980). Yet, it's impossible not to enjoy such a frank, no-holds-barred exploitation filmmaking that we have here. There are scenes where Mitsutake paints the screen red from the bottom of his heart, does it without resorting to CGI splatter, and even manages to pull odd fascination from the film's messy doom's day mixture of genres and influences. And there's no denying the beauty of the film's more atmospheric moments, a testament to just how good Mitsutake can be. You won't be bored for a moment! I wasn't, and I've seen it twice. Reviewed at Yubari Fanta 2021 Online Edition Tom Mes! Another passenger I spotted on the back seat in another scene was Yubari Programming director Tokitoshi Shiota! Edited September 23, 2021 by Takuma 3 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Member Takuma Posted September 23, 2021 Author Member Share Posted September 23, 2021 (edited) I know some of you won’t have the time to read the full review above, so here’s a capsule version: Maniac Driver (マニアック・ドライバー) (Japan, 2021) [Yubari Fanta 2021] – 3/5 Kurando Mitsutake's madcap giallo pastiche, jam-packed with sleaze. It opens with a leather-gloved, motorbike helmet wearing killer stalking a naked woman who is touching herself in the shower. He proceeds to ram a knife through her breast, after slicing her nipple in two. Mitsutake isn't challenging Deep Red here, but rather Strip Nude for Your Killer. The film originated as a pink film production, from which Mitsutake walked out, but shot the script as it was with all sex intact. The storyline follows a taxi driver looking for people to kill. Maniac and its remake, New York Ripper and other gialli, Evil Dead Trap and even Naomi Tani films are present here, though it's debatable how pure a giallo tribute is a film that reveals the killer's identity immediately and lacks mystery. The film feats in low-budget aesthetics (the colour use is pure 70s Argento, but comes out more like Hobo with a Shotgun due to low production values) and ridiculously overdone exploitation (the samurai fight is rather dumb), but also features hugely atmospheric quiet moments and a kick-ass score. It’s such sincere exploitation you can't help but to enjoy it. Only if Mitsutake had refrained from having the killer appear butt naked behind a victim's door and and then chase her while rock music plays and his balls are hanging out, the suspense might have been on a whole different level. Edited September 23, 2021 by Takuma 3 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Member DrNgor Posted September 23, 2021 Member Share Posted September 23, 2021 Read both reviews. Thanks for posting! Huh...a Japanese giallo film rivalling New York Ripper and Strip Nude for Your Killer in terms of sleaziness? Huh. 3 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Member Takuma Posted September 23, 2021 Author Member Share Posted September 23, 2021 19 minutes ago, DrNgor said: Read both reviews. Thanks for posting! Huh...a Japanese giallo film rivalling New York Ripper and Strip Nude for Your Killer in terms of sleaziness? Huh. I could've posted screencaps from the film that would've gotten me banned from this forum 2 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Member DrNgor Posted September 23, 2021 Member Share Posted September 23, 2021 1 minute ago, Takuma said: I could've posted screencaps from the film that would've gotten me banned from this forum Has anyone ever gotten dinged from the mods for inappropriate screenshots? Heh. The poster itself already leaves little to the imagination. A more personal question: in the Karate Kill thread, you mentioned that a friend gave you a book of the lead actresses pictures. Is it normal (or at least not unheard of) in general Japanese culture for men to have those sorts of books in their personal library and their wives or girlfriends not care? 3 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Member Takuma Posted September 23, 2021 Author Member Share Posted September 23, 2021 (edited) 51 minutes ago, DrNgor said: Has anyone ever gotten dinged from the mods for inappropriate screenshots? Heh. The poster itself already leaves little to the imagination. A more personal question: in the Karate Kill thread, you mentioned that a friend gave you a book of the lead actresses pictures. Is it normal (or at least not unheard of) in general Japanese culture for men to have those sorts of books in their personal library and their wives or girlfriends not care? I guess it's more of a otaku / single guy hobby, but certainly not unheard of. Of course not all wives / girlfriends allow such. But I guess many won't mind too much. I had good time with my girlfriend choosing out favourite photos in it. Though I would get occasional sarcastic remarks over the years I actually sold mine on eBay last year. I got something like $50 for it! I didn't even realize how valuable Mana-chan was before I checked the prices (the book was long OOP, and she's very popular) Edited September 23, 2021 by Takuma 2 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Member kuenfist Posted September 24, 2021 Member Share Posted September 24, 2021 For me as a big giallo fan after i read your review it is a must see. Hope the movie got enough success and comes out on Blu Ray in near future in europe. 3 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Member Super Ninja Posted September 24, 2021 Member Share Posted September 24, 2021 Japanese giallo, that combination of words already sold it for me, your review only confirmed this one needs to go on my watch list, thanks for the review. 3 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Member Takuma Posted November 2, 2021 Author Member Share Posted November 2, 2021 (edited) Website: https://www.maxam.jp/maniacdriver/ Trailer: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zK3oXkDfJkM Somehow the trailer makes it look maybe cheaper than it is, with some of the more stylish shots omitted, but at least they are being honest, lol. Edited November 2, 2021 by Takuma 2 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Member kuenfist Posted April 2, 2022 Member Share Posted April 2, 2022 Received my german Mediabook of the movie today. Nice edition with bluray, dvd and the soundfrack on cd. It is english friendly with english subs. Audio is japanese 5.1 and german 5.1 DD. I only skipped the chapters now and the picture quality is great. I had luck bought it in my local moviestore for only 34 euros. It is not cheap but beside when you buy (don't know if there is) a japanese release i think it will cost more. Watch it today and let you know if the movie is a good giallo. 3 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Member kuenfist Posted April 2, 2022 Member Share Posted April 2, 2022 (edited) So i now watched the movie and i must say this one of the best giallos made after 2010. Ok it is a cheap movie. Ok it could have more suspense but every minute watching this you feel the love from the director to the genre. Not only the giallo genre even to the 70's explotation cinema. Here are homages to the japanese piku eiga, american new wave and more 70's exploitation movies. For the budget the filmakers did a very very good job. It was made digital but it has a oldskool look. The audio commentary from the director is in english and the making off comes with english subs too. It is worth to watch the making off because you can see more nudity of the AV girls wich plays the female cast. The soundtrack is a mix between Goblin and Iron Maiden like music !!! I recommend to buy this bluray if you are a fan of the giallo, pinku eiga genre of the 70's. Here are some links from amazon: https://www.amazon.de/Maniac-Driver-Mediabook-Limited-CD-Soundtrack/dp/B09Q2FXQHC/ref=sr_1_2?__mk_de_DE=ÅMÅŽÕÑ&crid=1ZHDN99KQI7IM&keywords=Maniac+Driver&qid=1648921759&s=dvd&sprefix=maniac+driver%2Cdvd%2C78&sr=1-2 https://www.amazon.de/Maniac-Driver-Mediabook-Limited-CD-Soundtrack/dp/B09PW6G8QR/ref=sr_1_3?__mk_de_DE=ÅMÅŽÕÑ&crid=1ZHDN99KQI7IM&keywords=Maniac+Driver&qid=1648921776&s=dvd&sprefix=maniac+driver%2Cdvd%2C78&sr=1-3 https://www.amazon.de/Maniac-Driver-Mediabook-Limited-CD-Soundtrack/dp/B09PRZ1W4H/ref=sr_1_4?__mk_de_DE=ÅMÅŽÕÑ&crid=1ZHDN99KQI7IM&keywords=Maniac+Driver&qid=1648921796&s=dvd&sprefix=maniac+driver%2Cdvd%2C78&sr=1-4 as you see the editions are limited. Edited April 2, 2022 by kuenfist writing errors 3 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Member Takuma Posted April 3, 2022 Author Member Share Posted April 3, 2022 A US release should be coming soon. It's been confirmed, but no info when. https://www.diabolikdvd.com/product/padded-mediabook-maniac-driver-le-reel-gore-cd-blu-ray-all-region-preorder/ https://www.diabolikdvd.com/product/maniac-driver-le-reel-gore-cd-blu-ray-all-region-preorder/ I might actually buy this, partly for the extras. Mitsutake is super entertaining to listen to. 3 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Member Yihetuan Posted July 6, 2022 Member Share Posted July 6, 2022 I received the "padded" mediabook the other day and gave it a watch over the weekend. I felt @Takuma's review is pretty spot on. It was a really mixed bag for me & I wish Kurando took it to absurd levels of violence and gore like he did in Gun Woman and not wait until the final act to show it. So that part was a bit disappointing for me but I did enjoy when the story line forayed into a homage to Travis Bickle. The Kurando audio commentary is always worth a listen as he's one of the best in being both informative and entertaining and the OST was great as well. Which vacillated between a John Carpenteresque synth score to the Aiming High melodic Japanese metal songs. Iori Kogawa as the main eye candy was nice too! 3 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Moderator One Armed Boxer Posted August 9, 2023 Moderator Share Posted August 9, 2023 On 7/6/2022 at 2:38 PM, Yihetuan said: I received the "padded" mediabook the other day and gave it a watch over the weekend. Me too! Well, except for "the other day" part, since I'm increasingly guilty of having a very literal 'too-watch' pile, but glad I got around to this one! Pretty much agree with everything that's been said here already, and clocked in with my own thoughts over at COF - https://cityonfire.com/maniac-driver-2020-review-japanese-kurando-mitsutake-tomoki-kimura-iori-kogawa/ Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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