Maniac (2012)

As I was planning out my movies for the weekend, I decided to find something darker and more violent to follow last night’s journey into the supernatural. While those movies can be hit or miss, there are some that come out and leave an imprint. That was the case for the original version of Maniac, which came out early in my youth. The question is, will the 2012 interpretation do the same thing?

Plot/ Just when the streets seemed safe, a serial killer with a fetish for scalps is back and on the hunt. Frank is the withdrawn owner of a mannequin store, but his life changes when young artist Anna appears asking for his help with her new exhibition. As their friendship develops and Frank's obsession escalates, it becomes clear that she has unleashed a long-repressed compulsion to stalk and kill.

I was not sure what I should expect from this remake. The original from 1980 was a solid movie, and too many times, the modern versions fail to come close to capturing what the original film accomplished. In this case, this may have actually created the same type of lasting impression of the original. Dark and incoherent, this one may take you deeper into the mind of a maniac, shooting the majority of the flick from his perspective. The acting, especially Elijah Wood, is amazing, the visuals are spot on, the effects are good and the overall feel of the movie does not disappoint. Yes, there are some slow parts, and some of the storyline is choppy, but all-in-all, these flaws do not detract from the flick. In the end, this is definitely one of the better remakes to come out in some time, and a flick that definitely takes you on a downward spiral into some dark places. Check it out!

A Trip to See the Oddities of the Fayette County Fair

Yesterday, we gathered all four daughters together for a trip to the Fayette County Fair. One thing that is always interesting at these events is the variety of exhibits. Of course, they are very different from when I was a kid, with some of the modern sideshows and such. This is a travesty, as honestly, there is nothing better than the world of curiosity and oddities.

Fortunately, society may be changing some with the popularity of shows like Oddities and now Oddities: San Francisco. If you have read my blog, you most likely know that I am all for these shops and have started building a curiosity cabinet.

This same trend seemed to continue at our fair, as there was again a couple of side show related oddity exhibits, complete with multiple legged cows, two headed squirrels and four horned goats. I was truly in my element.

It was also nice to see Brenda and the girls be successful with the items they entered in to some of the categories. Bren and all four of my daughters are extremely talented, and sometimes amaze me with their creativity.