Donovan’s Brain

Donovan’s Brain

Year: 1953

Runtime: 83 mins

Language: English

Director: Felix E. Feist

HorrorThriller

In a hidden laboratory, a scientist revives a dead man’s brain by suspending it in a liquid tank and stimulating it with electrodes. The awakened brain quickly gains enormous psychic powers and begins to dominate the scientist’s mind, creating a Jekyll‑and‑Hyde split personality that compels him to act on the brain’s murderous urges.

Donovan’s Brain (1953) – Spoiler-Free Movie Summary & Plot Overview

Get a spoiler-free look at Donovan’s Brain (1953) with a clear plot overview that covers the setting, main characters, and story premise—without revealing key twists or the ending. Perfect for deciding if this film is your next watch.

In a remote mountain retreat, Dr. Patrick Cory has turned his secluded cabin into a hidden laboratory where the line between life and death is deliberately blurred. The pine‑scented isolation is contrasted by the sterile, humming presence of a glass tank filled with a shimmering saline solution, an underground stage for a daring scientific pursuit. Beside him, his wife Janice Cory watches the uneasy balance between curiosity and caution, their partnership grounding the uneasy brilliance of the experiment.

The core of Cory’s work involves suspending a freshly removed brain in the electrified liquid, hoping to coax consciousness back to life. When the brain awakens, it reveals an uncanny psychic capacity that begins to echo through the lab’s walls, whispering ideas and temptations that feel both foreign and intimately familiar. This unforeseen intelligence soon imposes a Jekyll‑and‑Hyde duality upon its keeper, forcing Cory to grapple with a split personality that threatens to eclipse his own will. The atmosphere grows tense, tinged with a cold, clinical dread that hints at the peril of unlocking a mind that has never known a body.

Around them, Dr. Frank Schratt, Cory’s trusted colleague, and Herbie Yocum, a curious photographer, sense the unsettling shift in the cottage’s rhythm. Their presence adds layers of professional intrigue and personal unease, as each observes the subtle power struggles that flicker behind the lab’s glass. The tone remains a slow‑burning blend of gothic science‑fiction and psychological suspense, inviting the audience to wonder how far a man can push the boundaries of nature before the very thing he revives begins to command his soul.

Last Updated: December 05, 2025 at 09:35

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Mad Science Horror Movies Like Donovan’s Brain

Brilliant minds are consumed by the terrible power of their own creations.Fans of Donovan's Brain will find similar dread in these films about scientists whose creations turn against them. If you liked the ethical horror and psychological tension of a mind being controlled, explore these movies featuring chilling experiments, mad science, and monstrous consequences.

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Narrative Summary

These stories typically follow a clear, cause-and-effect arc: a scientist pushes ethical boundaries in pursuit of knowledge, successfully creates or revives something, but then loses control as the creation reveals its own sinister will, leading to a struggle for dominance and a grim reckoning.

Why These Movies?

These films are grouped together because they share a core theme of 'mad science' gone horrifically wrong. They feature a steady, dreadful pace, high intensity psychological horror, and a dark tone focused on the corruption of power and the violation of identity.

Psychological Possession Thrillers Similar to Donovan’s Brain

A steady, dreadful unraveling of a mind being overtaken by a hostile will.If you were captivated by the psychological horror of Donovan's Brain, where a character's mind is invaded and controlled, this list is for you. Discover similar thrillers and horror movies about identity loss, mind control, and the terrifying feeling of being possessed by a malevolent force.

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Narrative Summary

The narrative pattern involves a protagonist becoming a host or vessel for a powerful, antagonistic consciousness. The story methodically charts their transformation, depicting the internal battle as their personality is suppressed and their actions are co-opted, leading to a bleak or bittersweet resolution.

Why These Movies?

These movies share a specific, intense vibe of psychological violation. They are united by a steady pacing that builds dread, a high-intensity focus on the horror of lost autonomy, and mood tags like paranoid, claustrophobic, and anxious, creating a cohesive experience of mental siege.

Unlock the Full Story of Donovan’s Brain

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Donovan’s Brain Summary

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Donovan’s Brain Summary

Donovan’s Brain Timeline

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Donovan’s Brain Timeline

Characters, Settings & Themes in Donovan’s Brain

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Characters, Settings & Themes in Donovan’s Brain

More About Donovan’s Brain

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