The Electronic Monster

When American film star Claude Denver suffers a blinding headache while driving along a mountainous road in the French Riviera, he loses control of the car, which then plummets over a cliff, killing him. Assigned to investigate the accident, insurance investigator Jeff Keenan flies to France, where he learns from Denver's publicity agent, Brad Somers, that two other men died after going to the same French psychiatric clinic in which Denver had been treated. At the clinic, Keenan encounters his former fiancée, Ruth Vance, who is now engaged to Paul Zakon, the film magnate who finances the clinic. The clinic is known for its use of the "dream machine," a device that acts as "electronic hypnosis" by transmitting taped emotions directly into the minds of the patients. After treating Signore Pietro Kallini, who has come to the clinic to cure his drug addiction, Dr. Maxwell, the machine's creator, explains to Jeff that the device transmits surrealistic dream-like visions, filmed at Zakon's film studio, that heal the patients' minds by giving them "a perfect kind of escape." After Jeff leaves, Maxwell tells his wife Laura, who assists him at the clinic, that he fears the treatment may be harming their patients. While Laura examines the records of the clinic's deceased patients, Maxwell drives to Zakon's studio to discuss his concern. After mollifying the doctor, Zakon calls a meeting with Blore, his henchman, and Dr. Hoff, a surgeon who had developed his skills at the Nazi concentration camps, to decide how to handle the troublesome Maxwell. Upon returning to the city, Jeff goes to visit Somers, but finds his body hanging from a fixture in his room. When Laura tells her husband that she found that all three deceased patients had viewed the same tape, Maxwell vows to disable the equipment that night. Meanwhile, Zakon tells Blore and Hoff that although he can control Maxwell by threatening to reveal that he never received a medical degree, Laura must be eliminated. Later, Hoff hooks up Kallini to a new tape that transmits a surreal dream featuring a papier-mâché head of Zakon, dancing women with whips, a dungeon and a torturer. Most of the figures in the dream wear the same electronic skullcap as Kallini. At the end of the dream, the masked figure of Zakon restores order and tranquility. As Kallini writhes in fear, Maxwell tries to stop the treatment, prompting Zakon to inform him that he has been demoted to Hoff's assistant, and from now on, patients will be subjected to nightmarish images which will then be banished by the benevolent figure of Zakon. With this brand of "brainwashing," Zakon hopes to gain the trust and money of his patients and ultimately control their lives. When Maxwell objects, Zakon threatens to expose him for operating without a medical license. Although Maxwell tries to allay Laura's concerns, she goes to the studio to confront Zakon. As she peruses the tapes in Zakon's office, Blore enters and assaults her, and in the struggle, a charm from her bracelet falls to the floor. Jeff also visits the clinic, and when Zakon spots him, he orders the security guards to bring the investigator to his office. Slipping into one of the sound stages, Jeff sees a man wearing a Zakon mask and encounters Ruth there. Ruth confides that she began to doubt Zakon's motives after Laura told her that the equipment might be dangerous. Ruth then goes to Zakon's office, where she returns his engagement ring and asks about Laura. When Zakon claims that Laura has gone to the country, Ruth spots the charm on the floor and challenges him. After Ruth leaves the office, Zakon sends Blore to kidnap her. Once the guards apprehend Jeff outside Zakon's office door, Zakon orders them to escort Jeff out of the building. Jeff goes to the police when he is unable to find Ruth, but they will not help. Soon after Laura's body is found, and Jeff interrupts the autopsy to force the coroner, who had been evasive about the cause of Denver's death, finally to admit that Denver died from electronic shock. After instructing the coroner to notify the police, Jeff drives to the clinic where Blore has taken Ruth so that she can be brainwashed. Sneaking in through a basement window, Jeff informs Maxwell that Laura has been murdered. The two then team up to save Ruth and defeat Zakon. As Jeff and Blore struggle, Hoff spots them and fires his gun, hitting Blore. While Jeff overpowers Hoff and demands to be taken to Ruth, Maxwell forces Zakon to don the electronic skullcap of the dream machine, then turns up the power, electrocuting Zakon. Jeff leads Ruth out of the clinic as Maxwell smashes the equipment, igniting an inferno that engulfs him.