DC Showcase: The Spectre

A bomb hidden beneath the diving board of Foster Brenner's swimming pool detonates, killing him instantly. The murder triggers a LAPD investigation, with Jim Corrigan deciding to pursue it even though the case is officially assigned to Lt. Brice. Flemming's security footage and Brenner's decision to cut collaborators hint at a driven motive behind the attack.

Jim Corrigan begins the inquiry and interviews Brenner's butler, Flemming, at the estate. Flemming presents security footage showing two masked men entering the complex to plant the bomb. He explains that Brenner had cut several longtime collaborators from his films, creating dangerous enemies.

Jim learns that the suspects come from Brenner's own industry circle and are angry about being cut from his projects. The motive points to a vendetta rooted in professional betrayal and financial stakes. The investigation widens to Hollywood's darker undercurrents.

At a special effects warehouse, Drew Flynn spots a man who resembles Brenner and is accused of the murder. The figure suddenly transforms into the Spectre. The apparition demonstrates supernatural powers for the first time in the investigation.

The Spectre uses his powers to animate the models and animatronic film monsters inside the warehouse, unleashing them to attack and kill Flynn. The otherworldly onslaught confirms a vengeful force beyond ordinary law enforcement. The scene marks the chilling blend of cinema magic and murder.

The Spectre confronts and kills another suspect, Peter McCoy, by crushing him with his car. The act demonstrates the killer's supernatural reach and cold resolve. He then inspects McCoy's suitcase, implying the money inside is part of the motive.

Jim arrives at Aimee Brenner's house undetected by phasing through the wall. He tells Aimee that she is good enough to be an actress in her father's films, suggesting a professional connection to Brenner's projects. The moment heightens the tension between the two characters.

Jim reveals that Aimee provided the correct access code for her father's estate to Flynn and McCoy, enabling them to open the briefcase and take the money. The revelation ties Aimee directly to the financial motive behind the murders. The moment crystallizes the betrayal at the heart of Brenner's death.

Aimee tries to distract Jim by asking if they can still be together while pulling a pistol, but the bullets pass harmlessly through him. Jim calmly declares that he is already dead and then transforms into the Spectre. The supernatural reveal confirms Jim's hidden identity.

The Spectre traps Aimee in a cyclone of money, causing her to bleed to death as the cash swirls around her. The fatal punishment underscores the financial motive that framed Brenner's murder. Jim completes his vengeance as the cycle ends.

With his vengeance complete, Jim sheds the Spectre's form and walks away, unseen by the arriving police. He remains with the secret of his double life, resolved to carry on his work from the shadows. The world sees only the aftermath of a brutal case.

The film ends with Jim narrating about his work to root out evil, acknowledging that his true identity as the Spectre will stay hidden. The closing voiceover frames him as a vigilante who confronts corruption from the shadows. The ending leaves the audience with the sense that his war against evil will continue.