There was a strain of movies relatively early on in the commercial display of film in the United States which simultaneously attempted to function as entertainment and education.

We can now look back at films like Refer Madness and see how ridiculous it all is – basing a narrative on a point of view meant to normalize society. But at the same time, in an era of moviemaking that didn’t need to consider a ratings system or really too much more than what could be gotten away with, cinema from the twenties and thirties is occasionally more shocking than films from a few years on.

There wasn’t a code by which films needed to function in 1934 when Dwain Esper, a filmmaker better known for his schlock than his skill, directed Maniac. Even if there was, though, it’s certain that Esper would have figured out how to include scantily clad women and murder.

As it is Maniac cops a bit of the Frankenstein legend and leans on the mad scientist mystique. The form isn’t quite subverted, but detoured as the crazed doctor’s assistant, Don Maxwell, kills his boss and parades around for the ensuing thirty minutes in costume as he descends to complete insanity.

Along the way, there’s some blackmail and suspicious sounds emanating from the good doctor’s abode. And with nothing more than an accidental injection to spur the plot on, the rest of the town finds itself enmeshed in a strange series of events.

Visually, it’s easy to tell that Maniac never concerned itself with perfection – the acting leaves a bit to be desired as well. And as the cops eventually catch onto the strange goings on a scene with a neighbor points out most of what people have criticized the film for in the past.

After hearing what was assumed to be a gunshot, some concerned citizen summons the fuzz. Meeting with a single cop outside, the man relates his story in stilted dialogue. And while the back and forth of it all seems bizarre, what’s more disconcerting is that this gentleman raises cats in an outdoor pen – for fur. He goes on to explain that when a cat dies, the rats eat it and then the remaining cats eat the rats. It’s a nice little operation he’s got going. So, regardless of the film’s outcome, that tasty bit of oddity alone should stave off Maniac’s disappearing anytime soon. At least, I hope.