By 3 News online staff
Elijah Wood horror movie Maniac has been ruled suitable only for film festival audiences in New Zealand.
The film is playing at the 2013 New Zealand International Film Festival and the ruling of the Office of Film and Literature Classification means it will not be released in cinema or for home entertainment once the festival has concluded.
Maniac is filmed entirely from the point of view of a psychotic killer, played by Wood. His face is only shown in reflections.
The film is playing in the Incredibly Strange section of the festival, programmed by Ant Timpson, who has a history of exhibiting controversial films in New Zealand that often run in to troubles with the censorship board.
"The OFLC decision says that the film may be 'injurious to the public good' if it goes out on a wider release," says Timpson.
"It's saying that the POV nature of the film mixed with the psychopathic behaviour of actor Elijah Wood is more than disturbing, that it’s potentially dangerous in the hands of the wrong person (that is, a non-festival goer). It's only my opinion but I simply don't agree with this decision.
"I can see the thought process behind it but I think it’s rather big leap to make. I think it's interesting to see where the OFLC draws a line on this dangerous POV material because it could also segue into a discussion about the graphically realistic and violent first-person videogames."
The official OFLC ruling for Maniac is objectionable "except if the availability of the publication is limited for the purpose of study in a tertiary media or film studies courier or screened as part of a film festival". It is the first film to receive the special Festival-only classification since The Bridge in 2007.
More information about the film, including session times, is available at the official 2013 New Zealand International Film Festival website.
3 News
source: newshub archive
