“The Park Maniac” is a Brazilian thriller movie starring Silvero Perreira and Giovanna Grigio. It is directed by Mauricio Eça.
Prime Video brings us “The Park Maniac,” a gripping Brazilian thriller inspired by a true story involving a psychopath. While the film entertains, it doesn’t break new ground in the thriller genre or in cinematic conception. However, the production holds our interest more through the character of the journalist than through the psychopath, who notably deviates from the oft-used Hannibal Lecter archetype popularized by Hollywood.
In this respect, the film offers a more realistic portrayal, taking us deep inside the workings of a media organization, which proves to be its most intriguing aspect.
Plot Summary
In 1998, a young man brutally murdered several women in Sao Paulo. A young journalist breaks the story, beating her colleagues to the punch. Despite being sidelined due to her youth and inexperience, she decides to pursue the maniac of the park, embarking on a perilous quest that puts her own life at risk.
About the Movie
As a police thriller, “The Park Maniac” doesn’t bring anything groundbreaking to the table, but it achieves its goals effectively: offering a vivid portrayal of the world of print journalism in the late 1990s and presenting a much more realistic profile of a psychopath, far removed from Hollywood’s often novelistic prototypes.
“The Park Maniac” makes it clear from the outset who the murderer is, emphasizing his evident madness and rage. There’s no mystery about the culprit. Instead, the film focuses on the journalist’s efforts to carve out a niche in a world dominated by established reporters and highlights the struggles of youth to find their place.
Silvero Pereira delivers a commendable performance, but the movie belongs to the young actress Giovanna Grigio, who brings a powerful, coherent, and tension-filled portrayal to her role. She carries the weight of the story and the film, seizing this opportunity for international exposure.
The direction is solid, maintaining a good pace that captures the rhythm of the story without resorting to a series of dramatic twists. The film effectively builds tension within the newsroom and skillfully intertwines this with the pursuit of the culprit.
The film excels in editing, pacing, and music, resulting in an engaging movie about psychopaths that doesn’t aim to be just another horror story designed to scare us. Instead, it seeks realism and fidelity to the true events, steering clear of forced cinematic impact and allowing the story itself to take center stage.
With a compelling narrative and strong performances, “The Park Maniac” offers an absorbing look at the intersection of journalism and crime, making it a must-watch for fans of realistic thrillers.
Where to Watch “The Park Maniac”
