Night Monster

Night Monster

Year: 1942

Runtime: 72 mins

Language: English

Director: Ford Beebe

HorrorMysteryThrillerHorror

Kurt Ingston, a reclusive millionaire confined to a crumbling swamp mansion, summons the physicians who abandoned him after his debilitating accident. One by one, the doctors become prey to a terrifying, unseen force that stalks the desolate halls, leading to gruesome deaths. The oppressive atmosphere of the swamp‑encircled estate heightens the dread as night falls.

Warning: spoilers below!

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Timeline & Setting – Night Monster (1942)

Explore the full timeline and setting of Night Monster (1942). Follow every major event in chronological order and see how the environment shapes the story, characters, and dramatic tension.

Time period

Location

Small town by the swamp

A quiet town sits on the edge of a surrounding swamp, creating a mood of isolation. The estate of Kurt Ingston anchors events, with a gate and watchful grounds adding to the sense of confinement. The swampy landscape shapes the atmosphere of secrecy and danger that defines the story.

🏚️ Isolated setting 🌫️ Foggy atmosphere 🌾 Swamp town

Last Updated: October 04, 2025 at 17:36

Main Characters – Night Monster (1942)

Meet the key characters of Night Monster (1942), with detailed profiles, motivations, and roles in the plot. Understand their emotional journeys and what they reveal about the film’s deeper themes.

Kurt Ingston (Ralph Morgan)

A wheelchair-bound magnate whose supposed paralysis masks a murderous will. He orchestrates the doctors' deaths and other acts of violence from his swamp estate, displaying a cold, calculating mindset.

💼 Wealthy 🧠 Calculating 🗝️ Secretive

Dr. King (Lionel Atwill)

One of the doctors invited to treat Ingston; he becomes a victim as the line between cure and conspiracy blurs.

💊 Doctor ⚠️ Targeted

Dr. Timmons (Frank Reicher)

Another physician in the trio who faces a grim fate as the mansion's danger escalates.

💊 Doctor ⚠️ Targeted

Dr. Phipps (Francis Pierlot)

The third physician summoned to diagnose and cure; his murder marks the unraveling of the household.

💊 Doctor ⚠️ Targeted

Dr. Lynn Harper (Irene Hervey)

A psychiatrist invited to assess Margaret and challenge the estate's grip; she allies with Dick Baldwin to uncover the truth and survive.

🧠 Psychiatrist 🛡️ Courageous

Dick Baldwin (Don Porter)

A mystery writer neighbor who helps expose the killer and helps rescue Lynn; pursues the killer across the swamp estate.

✍️ Writer 🕵️ Curious

Sarah Judd (Miss Judd – Doris Lloyd)

A stern housekeeper whose management of the household contributes to the oppressive atmosphere and complicates the investigation.

🧹 Housekeeper 🗝️ Controlling

Agar Singh (Agor Singh)

An Eastern mystic whose materialization tricks provide the mechanism for the killer to create limbs at will, enabling murders.

🔮 Mystic 🧪 Scientific

Torque

A shriveled gatekeeper who watches the estate’s gate, adding a chilling presence to the property’s defenses.

👤 Gatekeeper 🗝️ Eerie

Laurie (Leif Erickson)

A lecherous chauffeur whose reckless behavior foreshadows danger and ultimately contributes to the body count.

🚗 Chauffeur 🕊️ Lecherous

Cap Beggs (Robert Homans)

The town police captain who assists in the investigation, pursuing the truth alongside the visitor-cum-hero.

👮 Captain 🕵️ Suspicious

Margaret Ingston (Fay Helm)

Kurt's sister, thought to be mentally ill, who helps drive the plot from within; her fate is sealed as the house burns.

👭 Sister 🧨 Dangerous

Jeb Harmon (Eddy Waller)

A former household employee who becomes enmeshed in the growing web of suspicion surrounding the estate.

🧑‍🔧 Ex-employee 🔪 Suspicion

Rolf (Bela Lugosi)

The grim-humored butler who watches the gates and maintains the household’s intimidating order.

🗝️ Butler 🐍 Menacing

Milly Carson (Janet Shaw)

A neighbor in the household circle; a minor figure amidst the fear surrounding the swamp estate.

🧭 Neighbor 🗝️ Minor

Last Updated: October 04, 2025 at 17:36

Major Themes – Night Monster (1942)

Explore the central themes of Night Monster (1942), from psychological, social, and emotional dimensions to philosophical messages. Understand what the film is really saying beneath the surface.

🕵️ Deception

Appearances conceal deadly truth as the household navigates manipulation and hidden motives. The paralysis ruse, the staged estate, and the murders reveal a web of deceit. Investigators and outsiders uncover how truth is manipulated to maintain control and conceal culpability.

🏚️ Isolation

The swamp-bound mansion functions as a closed world where outsiders are kept at a distance. The remote estate intensifies paranoia as residents and guests become suspects. The setting amplifies fear, making every room a potential danger and every sound a clue.

⚗️ Science vs Superstition

Agar Singh's claimed mystical capabilities intersect with pseudo-science, challenging rational explanations. The doctors attempt rational cures while the killer exploits tricks that mimic scientific techniques. The tension questions whether the mysterious events are supernatural or a calculated deception.

Last Updated: October 04, 2025 at 17:36

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Explore Movie Threads

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.

Gothic mansion murder mysteries like Night Monster

Isolated, decaying estates become the stage for a series of grisly, inexplicable deaths.If you liked the claustrophobic suspense of Night Monster set in a crumbling swamp mansion, you'll enjoy these movies. This thread features similar thrillers and horrors where an isolated, gothic estate becomes the primary stage for a series of gruesome murders and a tense investigation.

gothicclaustrophobicominoussuspensefulisolateddark mysterydecaying elegance

Narrative Summary

Stories in this thread typically involve a group of people gathering at a remote, often opulent but decaying, residence. A mysterious force or killer begins targeting the inhabitants, creating a 'closed circle' whodunit structure. The narrative unfolds through investigation and rising paranoia, with the mansion's secrets being key to solving the central mystery.

Why These Movies?

Movies are grouped here for their shared focus on a specific, atmospheric setting that drives the plot. The combination of gothic architecture, isolation, a limited cast of suspects, and a systematic threat creates a unique vibe of elegant dread and claustrophobic suspense.

Thrillers about systematic revenge like Night Monster

A vengeful protagonist methodically targets their tormentors within a confined, isolated location.Fans of Night Monster's plot about a reclusive millionaire exacting revenge on the doctors who failed him will find similar themes here. These movies feature protagonists who orchestrate a calculated, often suspenseful, retaliation against their transgressors from within a secluded setting.

revengepsychologicalmethodicaltensedarkcalculatingclaustrophobicoppressive

Narrative Summary

The narrative pattern involves a wronged individual, often physically or socially isolated, who lures their targets into a contained space. The story then follows the deliberate, step-by-step unfolding of their revenge plot, blending elements of a thriller with a psychological character study. The secluded setting heightens the tension and sense of inevitability.

Why These Movies?

These movies share a core narrative engine: a meticulously planned revenge carried out in a confined environment. They are united by a mood of cold calculation, psychological tension, and the dark satisfaction of watching a long-gestating plan come to fruition, often with a mixed or tragic ending.

Unlock the Full Story of Night Monster

Don't stop at just watching — explore Night Monster in full detail. From the complete plot summary and scene-by-scene timeline to character breakdowns, thematic analysis, and a deep dive into the ending — every page helps you truly understand what Night Monster is all about. Plus, discover what's next after the movie.

Night Monster Summary

Read a complete plot summary of Night Monster, including all key story points, character arcs, and turning points. This in-depth recap is ideal for understanding the narrative structure or reviewing what happened in the movie.

Night Monster Summary

Night Monster Timeline

Track the full timeline of Night Monster with every major event arranged chronologically. Perfect for decoding non-linear storytelling, flashbacks, or parallel narratives with a clear scene-by-scene breakdown.

Night Monster Timeline

Night Monster Spoiler-Free Summary

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Night Monster Spoiler-Free Summary

More About Night Monster

Visit What's After the Movie to explore more about Night Monster: box office results, cast and crew info, production details, post-credit scenes, and external links — all in one place for movie fans and researchers.

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