Maniac (1980)

Maniac follows a deeply disturbed man living in New York City who struggles with violent urges tied to his traumatic childhood. By day, he seems like a loner trying to get by, but at night, he stalks women across the city and carries out brutal killings, taking gruesome trophies from each victim. His apartment is cluttered with mannequins that he decorates with pieces from his crimes, revealing just how far removed from reality hes become. Things start to shift when he meets a young photographer who treats him with kindness. Her interest in him throws off his routine and adds tension to his already fragile mental state. As his grip slips further, the violence escalates and the line between whats real and whats in his head starts to blur. The film stays tightly focused on his descent without offering easy explanations, keeping the viewer stuck in his unsettling perspective.