| Overall Grade: |
A |
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| Story: |
B+ |
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| Acting: |
A |
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| Direction: |
A- |
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| Visuals: |
B |
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The Sleeper Hit Of the Summer!
by Jeremiah L (movies profile)
Mar 7, 2008
Wow! Talk about your all-time surprises. I discovered the story of the Mummy Maniac whilst perusing old copies of the New York Times I keep in my bedroom. What unfolded was a horrific story of a murderer with such humanity, it was difficult at times to remember that he was responsible for over four killings in as many weeks in the early weeks of the summer of 1979. Like Son of Sam, the Mummy Maniac was a sociopath who nevertheless retained the angels of his better nature.
So it was with utter surprise that I saw a movie had been made about his story. I couldn't wait to see it, and a friend at Hollywood Movies hooked me up with an early DVD copy because my excitement was uncontained.
What unfolded was a brilliant, if unexpected retelling of the Mummy Maniac's story. Such heartfelt pathos hasn't often been shown in such stark depiction on grainy video, but the format and direction are so forthright and energized, one doesn't notice the occasional bad lighting job. What really matters is the incredible characterization from the lead, Ben Stewart, of the Mummy Maniac's inward struggles to kill versus his slowly eroding conscience. What we see, as an audience, is never predictable, never cliched.
The acting from the other characters occasionally run into problems--they are earnest in their portrayal, but Stewart is so powerful in the lead role that others are overshadowed. Very much a leading man. Perhaps even a solo man. Very few can outshine his brilliance.
Nikoff's direction is level and measured, focusing on what's important and leaving little room for doubt as to the purpose of the film. Clearly, with a title like "Mummy Maniac" the mainstream audience will never suspect that underneath the grime and grit of a psychopathic monster movie, is a shining jewel with carats to spare and an incredible value as cultural and iconic cinema. |
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