The Source Magazine caught up with actor Elijah Wood this week at a special screening of his horror film “Maniac,” which hit theaters today.

“Maniac” directed by Franck Khalfoun is a remake of William Lustig’s cult film of the same name, which is considered by many to be the most suspensseful slasher movie ever made.

Film Synopsis: Just when the streets seemed safe, a serial killer with a fetish for scalps is back and on the hunt. Frank (Elijah Wood) is the withdrawn owner of a mannequin store, but his life changes when young artist Anna (Nora Arnezeder) appears asking for his help with her new exhibition. As their friendship develops and Frank’s obsession escalates, it becomes clear that she has unleashed a long-repressed compulsion to stalk and kill. The film is a 21st century Jack the Ripper set in present day L.A.

What attracted you to the project?

Elijah: I’m a fan of the genre. I was excited at the prospect of playing a character that you largely only see in reflections. I just found that so intriguing. I’ve never really worked on a horror film before, so I thought it was an exciting way to tell a story that has already been told before.

What were the challenges of diving into horror?

Elijah: Making the character come to life in a believable way, not settling into clichés or familiar tropes, and breathing human life into this character and make him believable.

How were you able to relate to your character?

Elijah: I don’t think I related to him at all, but I found the humanity in him. I think he is a very vulnerable character. As brutal as he can be, he’s ultimately incredibly socially awkward and in dire need of connection. In some ways, that’s all he’s really searching for. I think we can all relate to that on some level.

Since this is a remake, what’s the difference between you and Joe Spinell playing this character?

Elijah: We’re so different. I didn’t actually see the movie prior to making it, mainly because I wasn’t familiar with the the film until we started making it. I also wasn’t looking to do what he had done. He was an extraordinary performer and really embodied the depths of that character and made that character very sad. It’s funny, because people keep talking about how this depiction makes the charter seem empathetic, or sympathetic, but I found that with him, too. I found him to be very pathetic; it’s a great performance. We’re incredibly different. Physically, I’m not at all like him, and the approach is a little bit different.

Franck has said you seem more like the guy next door, whereas Joey’s character was flat on scary. Would you agree with that?

Elijah: “Halloween,” John Carpenter’s “The Thing,” “Let the Right One In,” “Martyrs” from France, “We Are What We Are” from Mexico.