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On the evening of May 16th, I found myself walking the streets of Toronto (with staff writer Shredi Knight), as we made our way to the Bloor Street Cinema for a special screening of Bill Lustig's "Maniac". Having seen the film only once before--on a super grainy, low light transfer that made the original print of Texas Chainsaw look like Lucasfilm had remastered it--I was walking into the film as not the greatest fan of it. However, what really had me excited was that they were not only screening a newly remastered copy, but that Bill Lustig himself was going to be in attendance and would be available after the film for a Q&A session. The opportunity to watch Maniac with Mr. Lustig himself was something I considered to be once in a lifetime.

We entered the Bloor St. Cinema a little before 9:30 (just in time), and to our surprise a lot of the Rue Morgue crew was in attendance as well--including editor in chief Jovanka Vukovick. After getting our beverages, we entered the old-fashioned theatre (red curtains and all) which set a perfect atmosphere for watching an old-school horror flick. The film began with retro movie trailers courtesty of Rue Morgue, including a preview for Argento's "Cat o' Nine Tails" (nine times scarier than Bird With the Crystal Plumage!, according to the trailer). After the entertaining previews, and an introduction by Jovanka and Mr. Lustig, it was into the grindhouse for our feature presentation.

As the lights went down and the movie began, I looked around to see how successful the turnout was. After all, screenings like this seem to appeal only to a select and moderately underground group of followers. However, the entire cinema from front to back was scattered with people. While every seat wasn't sold-out, I was pleasantly surprised by the gathering.

There is certainly something to be said for watching a horror film--let alone a horror film like Maniac which boasts scenes of straight-up gore and mutilation--in a theatre full of people who all love horror equally. It's different from sitting in a mainstream cineplex, where the typical horror audience is teenagers with no tolerance for on-screen violence, who jump at every little shock scene. No... watching a film with a theatre of seasoned horror veterans is much different: they cheer, they clap, they burst into full applause at the goriest moments, and they laugh at the right spots. It completely takes away the guilty pleasure aspect of watching a horror film, yet it's always a liberating feeling to know that you're not alone. There are many others out there with the same love of off-beat and violent cinema.

When the film ended, I will admit I had a new respect for Mr. Lustig -- the restored print certainly did the movie justice. And while the bits of corny b-movie acting and low-production values remained, it was much easier to see Maniac for what it was: a pioneer, which inspired and helped to shape the decade we know as the Slasher Era.

The final Q&A was entertaining and informative as we sat listening to Bill reminisce about the good and bad moments of making Maniac. Notably among the good memories was his long friendship offscreen with star Joe Spinell, and how they would go in the middle of the night and watch Grindhouse movies at the drive-in... the sort of relationship which eventually culminated in the early incarnations of what would become "Maniac".

We left the Bloor Street Cinema at midnight -- having had a memorable filmgoing experience. The screening had brought new light to a film which is so often and undeservedly overlooked. And judging from the applause at the end of the night, we weren't alone.

Until next time slasher-fans, keep it sick, keep it bloody, and keep the gore flowing!