Maniac (1934)

Dwain Esper’s film, MANIAC, is a wildly disturbed and entertaining black-and-white exploitation/horror film, loosely adapted from the Edgar Allan Poe stories "The Black Cat" and “Murders in the Rue Morgue”. Much of the subject matter in the film was considered taboo in 1934, and still is considered twisted to this day. From dog and cat fights, to bouts of insanity, to rape and murder, to women laying around in lingerie all day, Dwain Esper’s MANIC is a testament to true independent filmmaking.


Some of the highlights of the film are:


The resurrection of a dead woman.

The blinding of a cat.

Women fist-fighting each other, ripping off clothing.

Men screaming in utter pain after overdosing on adrenaline.

Men breeding cats for their skins.

And MUCH, MUCH MORE….