Elijah Wood’s Psycho Film ‘Maniac’ Banned In New Zealand

Elijah Wood’s stint as the lovable Frodo in the Lord of the Rings film franchise isn’t enough to convince New Zealand that his new movie, Maniac. is harmless. The Office of Film and Literature Classification has banned the American actor’s slasher film because it may be harmful to the viewers.

Maniac, a remake of the 1980 film of the same name, is shot entirely from a mentally disturbed young man’s point of view. Frank (Elijah) is a serial killer who kills and scalps women, attaching their hair to his mannequins that he keeps in his house.

It was first at the Cannes Film Festival in May 2012, and had opened in Europe in March 2013. It was also released in the U.S. in New York City the following June.

But for those who wish to see it in New Zealand, they won’t be able to watch it on the big screen. However, they can watch it if the film is being used in a tertiary media, a film studies course, or screened as part of a festival.

According to the OFLC, Maniac is unsafe to watch for some audiences.

“The OFLC decision says that the film may be ‘injurious to the public good’’ if it goes out on a wider release,” Ant Timpson, programmer for the New Zealand International Film Festival, said in a statement.

“It’s saying that the POV nature of the film mixed with the psychopathic behaviour of actor Elijah Wood is more than disturbing; it’s potentially dangerous n the hands of the wrong person – that is, a non-festival-goer.”

And thus, it is safe to be screened at the film festival, which will run from July 26 to August 11.

But while its neighbour has shied away from showing Elijah’s new film, Australia has not. Monster Pictures, the Australian distributor of Maniac, is disappointed by the Kiwis’ decision.

“Maniac is one of the finest horror films in recent years, as its selection into the Cannes Film Festival (Midnight screenings 2012) would suggest. Banning the film beyond the festival screenings is an insult to the intelligence of the adult population of New Zealand and does little more than to serve as an open invitation to illegally pirate the film,” said Neil Foley of Monsters Pictures.

“We are flabbergasted.”

Maniac also stars Nora Arnezeder, Jan Broberg, and America Oliva, and is directed by Franck Khalfoun. It is set to hit Australian theatres in October.

The red band trailer for Maniac