Year: 1967
Runtime: 80 mins
Language: English
Director: Larry Buchanan
When darkness falls, the deranged stage hypnotist Dr. John Basso transforms his stunning assistant Doreena into the physical incarnation of a prehistoric sea monster—a being she embodied in a past life. He then exploits this terrifying power, claiming to foresee murders and using the creature to carry them out in a quest for fame and fortune.
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Dr. Basso Les Tremayne, a suave, silver-haired stage hypnotist and self-proclaimed clairvoyant, runs experiments in hypnotic regression that pull his unwilling subject Doreena Pat Delaney back to a prehistoric past life as an amphibious humanoid—the Gill Monster. Using the entranced Doreena to summon the hideous fish-faced creature from the depths of a nearby lake, Basso commands the savage she-beast to commit brutal murders, partly out of revenge on a world that mocked his occult theories and his unshakable belief that mindlessly destructive primeval monsters still lurk within us all, and partly for the notoriety they bring to his performances when he predicts the killings before they happen.
While detective Lt. Blake Roger Ready suspects the misanthropic mentalist behind the crimes, the police have little real evidence—only a webbed footprint at the first crime scene and an eyewitness sketch of a creature, leaving them seemingly powerless to stop Basso’s reign of terror.
Handsome Air Force psychologist Captain Ted Dell [Aron Kincaid], a respected scientist in psychic research, becomes involved when his fiancée Lynn [Suzanne Roy] drags him to a party hosted by retired business tycoon Sam Crane [Neil Fletcher] at his Tanglewood Country Club and Resort, where Basso is providing the entertainment. Sam Crane views Basso as just another con artist hoping to cash in on gullible audiences, but Ted grows fascinated with Doreena—the true source of Basso’s paranormal power—and vows to free her from the unhealthy mental domination that the romantically obsessed Basso has over her.
With Ted’s help, Doreena begins to gain the willpower to resist Basso, but the police confront the murderous Gill Monster down at a closed-off beach, and bullets prove useless against the indestructible creature. Angered by Ted’s interference, Basso turns the gun on him, but Doreena leaps in front of the shot and is killed instead. Her death causes the Gill Monster to slump to the ground and vanish back into the distant past. Heartbroken by the loss of the only person he has ever loved, Basso turns the gun on himself and ends his own life.
Last Updated: October 09, 2025 at 11:09
Discover curated groups of movies connected by mood, themes, and story style. Browse collections built around emotion, atmosphere, and narrative focus to easily find films that match what you feel like watching right now.
Stories where scientific or psychological hubris creates a terrifying monster.If you liked Creature of Destruction's theme of a hypnotist creating a monster for personal gain, you'll find similar stories here. These movies explore the terrifying consequences of scientific hubris and psychological manipulation, where the real villain is human ambition.
Stories in this thread typically follow a clear cause-and-effect pattern: a character's obsessive pursuit of knowledge, power, or fame leads them to 'create' a monster, either literally or figuratively. This creation then spirals out of control, turning on its creator and others, culminating in a destructive and often tragic climax.
These films are grouped by their shared focus on the 'mad scientist' or manipulator archetype and the theme of creation turning against the creator. They share a dark, cautionary tone and explore the ethical boundaries of power and control.
Tales of psychological manipulation where the mind is the real battlefield.Fans of Creature of Destruction's theme of a hypnotist controlling his assistant will enjoy these films. Discover similar movies about psychological manipulation, lost agency, and the horrific results of one mind dominating another.
The narrative pattern revolves around a dominant, often charismatic figure who manipulates a vulnerable subject. The plot explores the gradual loss of the victim's agency, the exploitative goals of the controller, and the inevitable violent or tragic outcome of this twisted relationship.
These movies are united by their exploration of psychological domination as a primary source of horror. They share an oppressive, anxious mood and focus on the terrifying dynamics of control, obsession, and the loss of self.
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