When a stranger enters a quiet, country town and is seduced by a sensuous married woman he unwittingly finds himself at the centre of a storm of sexual guilt and murder.
A man escapes from a mental institution and begins a spree of violent killings, targeting women. He collects disturbing souvenirs from his victims, which he uses to help him commit further crimes. The film follows his increasingly erratic and gruesome actions as the police attempt to apprehend him.
Maniac (1963) is a low-budget exploitation horror film that gained a cult following for its graphic and disturbing content for its time. It is often cited for its primitive special effects and melodramatic performances, but has been recognized for its audacious approach to horror filmmaking within the genre's B-movie landscape. Critics often point to its shocking violence and unsettling atmosphere as its defining, albeit controversial, characteristics.
Google audience: Audience reviews often highlight the film's notoriety for its violence and disturbing subject matter, especially considering its 1960s production. While acknowledged as a cult classic by some, many find its technical execution and performances to be dated and rudimentary.
Director Jack H. Harris also produced the influential sci-fi film 'The Blob' (1958).
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