 Boris Karloff in his best role ever as the sinister Satanist architect Hjalmir Poelzig. |
 Bela Lugosi does a wonderful job as Dr. Vitus Werdegast, a once kindly man with a thirst for vengeance. |
 David Manners gives a decent performance as Peter Alison, a man caught up in circumstance. |
 Jacqueline Wells is Joan Alison, damsel in distress and potential victim of Poelzig's evil. |
 Peter and Joan Alison travel on a train through Hungary. They have no idea what's in store for them. |
 Werdegast joins the happy couple in their compartment due to the train being overbooked. |
 While Joan sleeps, Vitus tells Peter of the 15 years he spent in Korgull, a prison that "kills the soul." |
 Since they are all going to the same town before going their separate ways, they decide to share a taxi. |
 Part of the road gives way due to the rain. The car crashes and the driver is killed. |
 The men take Joan to Poelzig's house to treat her injuries. It is late and Poelzig is asleep. |
 Poelzig awakens from his slumber. Needless to say, he isn't very happy with the arrival of his "guests." |
 Werdegast explains the situation. He and Poelzig apparently know each other from before Korgull. |
 Werdegast explains how Poelzig built his house above the bodies of many men killed in battle before. |
 Poelzig is very impressed with Joan. He clearly has something in mind for her. What? We don't know... yet. |
 Poelzig tells his wife Karyn, to stay in their room. She thinks her father Vitus is long dead. |
 Werdegast is shown the body of his dead wife, which Poelzig has kep preserved for years. |
 Werdegast pulls a gun on Poelzig who is spared when a black cat shows up. Vitus is afraid of cats. |
 Vitus confronts Hjalmar and finds that he is not planning on letting Joan go. They wager on a chess game for her. |
 The local gendarme show up to get the story on the car wreck. They act like buffoons and then leave. |
 Poelzig discusses death to keep the edge in the chess game. It works and he wins the game and Joan. |
 Knowing that his defeat means that Joan will not be let free, Vitus sits in utter silence. |
 When trying to leave with Joan, Peter is knocked out and imprisoned by one of Poelzig's servants. |
 Joan informs Karyn that her father is alive and in the house. Poelzig hears them talking. Big trouble. |
 The Black Mass begins. Joan is to be the sacrifice. Watch the film for the exciting conclusion! |
