“Narcotic” is a 1933 exploitation film directed by Dwain Esper, which provides a dramatic depiction of the perceived dangers of drug addiction. The film follows the life of Dr. William G. Davies, an idealistic medical student who descends into the world of drug addiction. After a single night of relaxation in a Chinatown opium den, Davies becomes a slave to drugs. His medical practice deteriorates, and he shifts his attention to selling a quack cure-all known as “Tiger-Fat”. Davies soon becomes a leading sideshow attraction for a carnival, and his success initially allows him to run with a fast crowd. In the movie’s most shocking episode, Davies and his ritzy friends retire to a hotel room together for a drug party. Ultimately, Davies’ drug addiction leaves him gaunt and stooped, living in a hovel with no hope of returning to his previous life. “Narcotic” serves as a historical document, reflecting societal attitudes towards drug addiction during the 1930s12. Dwain Atkins Esper (October 7, 1894 – October 18, 1982) was an American director and producer of exploitation films. A veteran of World War I, Esper worked as a building contractor before switching to the film business in the mid-1920s. Esper, like other exploitation directors, didn’t care whether audiences left his films more enlightened about polarizing issues of the day. His films played in grind-house theaters or at fly-by-night tent screenings, operating just outside the all-grasping influence of the Hays Code.