A surgeon obsessed with the torture ideas of Edgar Allan Poe
uses a criminal to get revenge when he suffers unrequited love.
After a woman is in a car accident, doctors call Dr. Richard
Vollin (Bela Lugosi), but he says he only does research. Her father
Judge Thatcher (Samuel S. Hinds) persuades Vollin to save her.
Vollin operates, and a month later he plays the organ for her;
but Jean Thatcher (Irene Ware) is going to marry Vollin's assistant
Jerry Halden (Lester Matthews). Vollin and her father watch Jerry
dance to the poetry of Edgar Allan Poe. Judge Thatcher calls on
Vollin to keep Jean from falling in love with him; but Vollin
says he must send her to him. Edmond Bateman (Boris Karloff) goes
to Vollin, who recognizes him. Edmond with a gun demands that
Vollin change his face. Vollin says Edmond must first do torture
and murder, as he has before. Edmond refuses. In a secret room
Vollin operates on Edmond. When Vollin removes the bandage, half
of Edmond's face is deformed. Edmond angrily shoots mirrors, and
Vollin laughs hysterically. Vollin says that Edmond must do the
torture before he will make him look good. Now Edmond agrees.
Judge Thatcher learns that Jean and Jerry went to Vollin's for
the weekend. They gamble with other guests. Edmond tells Vollin
that Judge Thatcher is there. Jean sees Edmond come into her room
and screams. Vollin tells guests Edmond was tortured in war. Vollin
says how Poe fell in love; but when he lost her, Poe thought of
tortures. Jean apologizes to Edmond as guests go to their rooms.
Judge Thatcher tells Jean and Jerry that Vollin is mad, and they
should leave; but they just change rooms. Vollin makes Edmond
leave their room and shows him his torture devices. Edmond traps
Vollin below the descending pendulum knife but releases him. Jean
sees Edmond coming into her room and runs to Jerry. They change
rooms again. Col. Grant asks Vollin for a sleeping powder for
his wife. Edmond grabs Judge Thatcher and takes him to Vollin,
knocking out Jerry too. Vollin tortures Thatcher with the pendulum
knife. Vollin lowers Jean's room. Jerry wakes others but can't
get in the secret room. Vollin closes them in with shutters. Jean
asks Edmond for help. The secret door opens and Jerry goes in,
followed by Geoffrey. Vollin has a gun and locks Jean and Jerry
in a room that is shrinking. When Edmond opens the door, Vollin
shoots him; but Edmond closes the door on Vollin. Judge Thatcher
is then rescued. Col. Grant and his wife are asleep, and Jean
and Jerry drive away.
This stylized film portrays a sadistic doctor who uses
his genius to try to manipulate others; but he fails miserably
as he is caught in his own device.