The people are hungry for homegrown slashers, and independent filmmakers are delivering. In the last couple of years alone, we’ve seen the rise of masked maniacs from Johnny stalking the woods in In A Violent Nature to a giant, lumbering doll in Dolly and now, Frankie, Maniac Woman. Rarely do we get to see a woman go ballistic on this level. In the world of masked killers with mommy issues, more often than not, it’s the men having all the knife-wielding fun. (No, I’m not saying there are no women in the slasher subgenre, I’m saying it’s mostly a boys' party!)
We’re currently living through a time where most of us would like to go a little off the rails, were it not for the fact that we’re so damn civilized and well-behaved. Watching these slashers behaving badly, running amok, and wreaking havoc is a cathartic release. The more over the top, the better, as they smash in craniums and rip out spines while audiences gleefully cheer in the dark.
When we use terms like “independent” and “DIY” to describe how a film came to be, it involves a dedicated team of filmmakers wearing a whole lot of hats and making something against all odds. In this case, saying that the filmmaking duo Pierre Tsigaridis and Dina Silva are “wearing a lot of hats” doesn’t quite cut it.
FANGORIA recently hosted a screening of Frankie, Maniac Woman followed by a Q&A with Pierre Tsigaridis, Dina Silva, and their co-star Stefanie Estes (Soft & Quiet). Tsigaridis not only co-wrote, directed, and produced the film, he also did the editing, cinematography, set design, acted in it, and had a hand in the music as well. This doesn’t even count the gaffer, crafty, and various other odd roles he took on.
Silva starred as Frankie, the Maniac Woman in question, and also co-wrote, produced, handled costumes and production design, and performed most of the music for the film’s soundtrack. She also just took home Panic Fest's Best Actress in a Feature Film Award for the role (catch a peek at Silva in action in the trailer below).
This filmmaking outfit is scrappy as hell, and they brought a gritty grindhouse slasher to the screen, telling an original story about a character you’ll likely find yourself weirdly sympathizing with in spite of yourself. Make no mistake, Frankie is no hero, but at times you’ll probably find yourself almost wanting to be her friend, before very quickly being reminded that scenario does not end well for anyone.
It’s Maniac meets Fight Club meets fill-in-the-blank. Proudly drawing inspiration from the likes of Henry: Portrait of a Serial Killer, Twin Peaks (no, it’s not “Lynchian”), and all the iconic slashers we know and love, from Michael Myers to Leatherface, Tsigaridis and Silva have managed to blend it all together and come out on the other side with something wholly original.
The commentary about the particular brand of bullshit women endure in this world to simply just exist is at once evergreen and timely. In addressing the beauty standards that are not suggested but rather demanded by society, you can almost forgive “Frances, but you can call me Frankie” for snapping entirely. Almost.
Where masked slashers are often mysterious with eyes obscured behind their nightmarish masks, Frankie’s eyes are wild, maniacal, and bewildered. We’re given access to her internal monologue made up entirely of awful, intrusive thoughts — an amalgamation of every horrible thing ever said to her by the people she encounters in the world.
Frankie’s mask was made from a mold of Silva’s face. Tsigaridis shared that the final result was just slightly too small, causing the mask to morph into an uncanny nightmare of Frankie’s face. It is both her and not her, adding an extra eerie effect to the look. Familiar in that haunting, uncanny way of seeing something you can’t quite place, like misremembering something in a nightmare.
This dark horror comedy blends gritty, character-driven horror with some incredibly dark humor. It descends into brutal chaos and tackles themes of body image, bullying, and mental health, without ever losing its darkly comedic edge. And you should go see it on the big screen and tell all your friends to do the same.
Frankie, Maniac Woman is now playing in select theaters. Check your local listings for showtimes and watch the Q&A from our advance screening below.
