Maniac (1934) is a notorious low-budget exploitation horror film directed by Dwain Esper. It follows Don Maxwell, a vaudeville actor turned assistant to a mad scientist, who murders his boss and assumes his identity, rapidly descending into madness. The plot involves grave robbing, involuntary injections, cat-eating, and blackmail, creating a surreal, chaotic experience.

The film heavily references Edgar Allan Poe's "The Black Cat" featuring a character who goes insane and hides a body behind a brick wall.