Frankie, Maniac Woman – Movie Review (4/5)

FRANKIE, MANIAC WOMAN is an Indie Horror Movie that blew me away. It’s full of little tributes to iconic slasher movies, has a surprisingly relevant and current plot, and lots of gorgeous practical effects. What more could your slasher-loving heart possibly ask for?! Yeah, you do NOT want to miss out on this one. Read our full Frankie, Maniac Woman movie review here!

FRANKIE, MANIAC WOMAN is a new indie horror movie that we almost missed out on. It premiered at GrimmFest this past October, which we weren’t able to cover, but now it’s coming to GrimmFest’s online festival, which gave us this second chance. And what a deliciously bloody and wild surprise!

Based on the plot alone, I would be ready to watch it. Knowing that the director of Traumatika made it would certainly have sealed the deal. Then, after watching the first ten minutes, I was so pleased with what I was watching that my only fear became: How can this possibly stay this good until the very end? Well, it did!

Continue reading our Frankie, Maniac Woman movie review below.

Dina Silva is perfect as Francis “Frankie” Ramirez

The absolute star of Frankie Maniac Woman is Dina Silva, who has already won a Best Actress award for this role at GrimmFest.  With this movie, she’s playing a character who lives on the edge and frequently runs, jumps, and dances over that edge.

Frankie Maniac Woman is an unapologetic, raw, personal, and feminist character inspired by Dina Silva’s real struggles. And it comes across perfectly. Not least also, due to the classic “pretty girls” in the story and the male characters, who act like the jerks we all recognize.

This is a horror movie that could easily be described as a slasher horror-comedy meets a body horror plot. It has lots of dark comedy, but also a few laugh-out-loud moments. And it has a lot of murder and blood with gorgeous practical effects… but it does get really brutal, so it’s not all kitsch and campy.

We follow Francis Ramirez, AKA Frankie, who is an overweight woman trying to make it as a singer. She has an amazing voice and presence, but struggles with the idealized sense of beauty, which usually means skinny. As the story progresses, it touches on important subjects including mental illness, body image, violence against women, and overall objectification.

And yet, it’s also “just” an absolutely brilliant and gory horror slasher!

This is why I love indie horror…

Not only does Frankie Maniac Woman go where few movies dare, but it also does it so extremely well that you just sit there mesmerized. The retro feel of the style is full of references to The Shining, a little Psycho, a touch of Silence of the Lambs, plus, perhaps most notably, Texas Chainsaw Massacre.

Also, don’t stop watching too soon, as the end credits do offer up a little extra.

Via Heaven of Horror, we watch a lot of genre productions. Some with huge budgets, but made with no soul or passion, which makes one fear for the future of genre films. But then we also get the chance to watch a movie like Frankie Maniac Woman, and it makes it all worth our time. And, more importantly, it restores our faith in the future of horror movies.

WATCH THIS IF YOU ENJOYED…

The movie Piggy (2022) which is very different, but has a somwhat similar vibe >

This is a perfect example that talent and passion will outweigh budget every single time. Not least, it means actors who love what they’re doing. Not just someone hoping for (or being promised) a little exposure. That’s why it didn’t even surprise me when Stefanie Estes (Soft & Quiet) suddenly appeared in an important key role.

Full disclosure: We were sent a screener and reminded of the director’s previous movie (Traumatika). This led us to immediately watch it without reading up on anything. Well, apart from the plot, and knowing the online film festival release tomorrow. Other than that, I decided to “go in blind” with this one, and am so happy I did!

Watch Frank, Maniac Woman when you get the chance!

Frankie, Maniac Woman comes from director Pierre Tsigaridis, who also co-wrote the screenplay with the star of this movie, Dina Silva. As I was watching this movie, I kept thinking that it could easily have been ruined by someone who just wanted to shock or follow some “pain-by-numbers” approach to a slasher.

Instead, it surprised and continuously pushed further, working towards an edge that I never imagined or expected. I loved it! This is the kind of movie that I would have reveled in watching at a film festival, in person, but it still easily holds up to being watched at home.

Also, I desperately need to find the soundtrack for this movie. Dina Silva has the most amazing voice (and possibly the best IMDb biography I have ever read), and the vibe of the soundtrack just elevated the whole experience. Especially the songs by Dina Silva hit both a nerve and all my sweet spots.

This indie horror gem will be released as a self-distribution plan, so make sure you watch it however you can. If you love slasher movies and want to support these brilliant filmmakers and stars of the film, then make sure you watch it – and tell other fans of the genre about it!

FRANKIE, MANIAC WOMAN is part of GrimmFest’s online festival starting Friday, December 5, 2025.

How to watch FRANKIE MANIAC WOMAN: Read up on GrimmFest’s online festival and buy a pass for it here >

Details

Director: Pierre Tsigaridis
Writers: Dina Silva, Pierre Tsigaridis
Stars: Dina Silva, Pierre Tsigaridis, Stefanie Estes, Rocío de la Grana, Jordan Kelly DeBarge, Sarah Grace Lee, Desma Triplett