The friendly degenerates at Grindhouse Releasing invite you to enjoy a special screening of one of the most gruesome and controversial slasher flicks to ever get feminists’ panties in a bunch: Maniac. A beloved classic among gore-geeks, the 1980 Bill Lustig-directed film stars Joe Spinell as Frank Zito, an especially deranged killer of innocent young women.

From the press release:

HOLLYWOOD, Calif. – Grindhouse Releasing, the company that brought you THE EVIL DEAD,  CANNIBAL HOLOCAUST, PIECES and Duke Mitchell’s GONE WITH THE POPE, has partnered with director Bill Lustig of Blue Underground to present Mr. Lustig’s controversial horror classic MANIAC in theaters across North America.

MANIAC stars Joe Spinell (ROCKY, THE GODFATHER, TAXI DRIVER) as Frank Zito, a deeply disturbed man haunted by the traumas of unspeakable childhood abuse. When these horrific memories begin to scream inside his mind, Frank prowls the seedy streets of New York City to stalk and slaughter innocent young women. Even as he begins a relationship with a beautiful photographer (Caroline Munro of THE SPY WHO LOVED ME), Frank continues to act on his vile compulsions. The film holds nothing back in depicting the atrocities of a human monster.

MANIAC earned instant notoriety in 1980 as the most graphic and disturbing of all slasher films, thanks to the gruesome special effects wizardry of Tom Savini (DAWN OF THE DEAD, FRIDAY THE 13TH). Gene Siskel and Roger Ebert called for their audience to boycott MANIAC, feminists protested the film’s brutal violence, and other critics simply reviled the film as “sick” and “dirty.”

Aside from the shocking, bloody special effects sequences, MANIAC draws much of its power from the acting of the late Spinell, who also co-wrote and executive produced the film.

“MANIAC’s longevity is a tribute to the extraordinary talent of Joe Spinell, whose compelling performance has resonated with worldwide audiences since the film’s release 30 years ago,” Mr. Lustig said. “I’m very pleased to work with Grindhouse Releasing on this series of screenings.”

Maniac screenings begin Oct. 29 & 30 at the Egyptian Theater in Seattle. Joe Lustig will introduce the film on Nov. 5 at the Nuart Theater in Los Angeles.

Check the following listings to see if Maniac is playing near you:

Oct. 29-30            Egyptian (Seattle) – presented by The Stranger

Nov. 5                   Nuart (LA) – Director William Lustig in person

Nov. 12 -13          Esquire (Denver)

Nov. 12-13          River Oaks (Houston)

Nov. 12                Toronto Underground Cinema (*tentative)

Nov. 19-20          Sunshine (NY) – Bill Lustig in person

Nov. 19-20          Inwood (Dallas)

Nov. 26-27          Hi-Pointe (St. Louis)

Dec. 3-4                Uptown (Minneapolis)

Dec. 3-4                E Street (DC)

Dec. 10 – 11         Castro (San Francisco) – director William Lustig in person

Dec. 17 – 18         Oaks (Pittsburgh)

Jan. 15       Hollywood Theater (Portland, OR)

Visit www.GrindhouseReleasing.com for more dates as they are confirmed. If you can’t see Maniac in your city, pick up the Blu-ray on Oct. 26.