At least Maniac tried.
Based on a Norwegian television series, this brave Netflix adaptation really deserves nothing but congratulations. It is anathema to challenge viewers these days with anything that isn't a family drama or biography about people being framed for crimes by lazy policemen. And because it tried to be different, Maniac gets my respect. I just wish it had tried a wee bit harder.
Maniac is set in alternate present/future where technology gets its chief inspiration from the 1970s. Computers are large and chunky, and the design aesthetic of all tech should come with its own Earth, Wind and Fire soundtrack. Advertising has metastasized to the point where living people follow you around telling you about products you should buy. Hacking personal records isn't something done by shady operatives in dark rooms--you can have this done by going to seedy storefronts. Robots exist, but only to clean up dog shit.
In this world we meet Annie Landsberg (Emma Stone) and Owen Milgrim (Jonah Hill), who both sign up for a pharmaceutical test of a new therapeutic drug. Both have different reasons for doing so--Anna is addicted to one of the drugs associated with the test and needs a fix, and Owen needs to make some money. It's important to note that both suffer psychological issues: Anna is anti-social and grieving, while Owen is schizophrenic, has severe issues with determining what is real, and is dealing with potentially harmful family drama.
Along with other testees, Owen and Anna undergo the effects of the new drug, which propel users into dream worlds to help deal with their issues. These dream worlds vary, from opulent decadence mystery nights, soul dead suburbia, all the way to third rate fantasy worlds. Owen and Anna start meeting up in these worlds, which is thought to be impossible. As the tests continue, both Anna and Owen have to deal with the things they encounter, while outside the pharmaceutical company deals with a breakdown of its own.
Like The Haunting of Hill House, Maniac starts off telling one story and ends up finishing with another.
The world set forth in Maniac is fascinating. It's very much THE FUTURE as seen from the late Seventies. The little bits we see of it as Annie goes about trying to get more of the therapy drug shows a crass dystopia that feels very PKD. But whereas something like Blade Runner dealt with larger issues of their respective worlds, Maniac eschews the world it created to focus on the emotional journeys of Annie and Owen.
Unfortunately, only Annie's story felt interesting and felt tied to this world. Owen's story didn't need to be in a science fiction universe, and as such, feels unnecessary. Perhaps this is down to Emma Stone's performance, which at some points makes you laugh and at others makes your eyes do that weird watering thing, especially regarding the grief tearing her life apart. Hill's performance is much more subdued, for whatever reason. You feel sorry for Owen, but you feel for Annie.
As well, there is an unctuous subplot regarding the pharmaceutical company that should have been left on the cutting room floor. It veers like a drunken driver from scenery chewing hamminess to clumsy satire, if one understands satire to involve lots of shouting.
Maniac begins as an interesting science fiction story, wobbles around, shouts a bit, and finally ends as feel good drama about feelings. It's worth watching, especially for Emma Stone's performance and the world seen in the early episodes. Maniac made me think of The OA, which was a glorious, metal spewing car wreck, but it at least had the courage to be that glorious, metal spewing car wreck.
Maniac seems to lose its car wreck courage at the half way point. But at least it tried.
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