We still have a bit of a wait before Maniac is released in the US, but the movie is now playing internationally and we have the first six minutes of the movie for you to watch.IFC acquired North American distribution rights for Maniac and we’ll hopefully see it released early in 2013. The movie is a remake of the 1980 William Lustig film, and stars Elijah Wood as a serial killer:

“[IFC Midnight announced] that the company is acquiring all North American rights to director Franck Khalfoun’s thriller MANIAC. Alexandre Aja and Gregory Levasseur wrote the screenplay for the film, which stars Elijah Wood, is a remake of William Lustig’s 1980 film of the same title. Thomas Langmann, Aja, Levasseur, and Lustig produced the project with Antoine de Cazotte, Daniel Delume, Andrew W. Garroni, Pavlina Hatoupis, and Alix Taylor executive producing. MANIAC premiered in the Official Selection of the 2012 Cannes Film Festival out of competition.

Frank is the withdrawn owner of a mannequin store, but his life changes when young artist Anna appears asking for his help with her new exhibition.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. A 21st century Jack the Ripper set in present-day LA, MANIAC is a re-boot of the cult filmconsidered by many to be the most suspenseful slasher movie ever made – an intimate, visually daring, psychologically complex and profoundly horrific trip into the downward spiraling nightmare of a killer and his victims.”

Want to see more? Here are links to the NSFW trailer and our photo gallery: