In the opening scenes of What's After the Movie, a stereotyped beatnik named Stan Hess, portrayed by Ray Danton, is introduced as a woman-hating fixture of the sensationalized beatnik scene. During a coffee house encounter, a woman pleads for his affection, but he dismisses her coldly. He then encounters his father, who announces his engagement to a younger woman that had also been pursuing Stan, prompting him to insult his future stepmother and storm out. This initial portrayal sets Hess up as a deeply troubled character immersed in the stereotypical beatnik subculture.
As the story unfolds, we quickly learn that Hess is also a dangerous serial rapist, operating in Los Angeles. His method involves gaining entry into the homes of married women while their husbands are away, by pretending he is there to repay money loaned by the husbands. Once inside, he feigns a headache, calmly pulls out a tin of aspirin, and asks the woman for water. While she is distracted, Hess quietly sneaks behind her and commits his assault and rape. He leaves the tin of aspirin behind at the scene, which earns him the nickname "The Aspirin Kid" by the police.
In a dramatic turn early in the film, Hess nearly meets his demise when he is hit by a car while fleeing the scene. The driver, who turns out to be a police detective named Steve Cochran, offers him a ride. During their conversation, Hess introduces himself as Arthur Garrett and discreetly takes note of the detective’s address, foreshadowing his plan to target the detective's wife later in the story.
The investigation into The Aspirin Kid is assigned to Detective Culloran, played by Steve Cochran, and his partner Baron, portrayed by Jackie Coogan. Culloran's personal background reveals a man twice divorced and suspicious of women, which influences his approach to the case. The police have a suspect — a beatnik called Art Jester, played by James Mitchum, who matches Hess’s description, but his alibi checks out, adding complexity to the pursuit.
Hess, or Garrett, further manipulates the investigation when he calls Culloran at the police station, promising to surrender himself at a nightclub. Instead, he heads to Culloran’s home and attacks Francee, played by Fay Spain, who is also his target under the false name of Garrett. This assault leads to Francee discovering she is pregnant, which causes conflict and emotional turmoil within the Culloran family. She and Culloran argue over her reluctance to continue the pregnancy and whether to get an abortion. Francee first seeks advice from Baron’s wife and later from Baron, complicating their relationships.
Meanwhile, Hess urges Jester to throw the police off the trail by committing a similar attack on a woman named Georgia Altera, portrayed by Mamie Van Doren, during a time Garret cannot be involved. However, the police are already convinced that Garrett is their man. During this time, Georgia Altera and Jester develop feelings for each other, adding emotional tension to the plot.
The climax features a suspenseful beach party during which Detective Culloran, plagued by obsession and rage, tries to apprehend Garrett through an intense scuba-diving chase. The pursuit reaches a fever pitch as Culloran nearly kills Garrett in his desperation, only stopping when Baron intervenes. Recognizing his overreach and emotional instability, Culloran is eventually persuaded to return to his wife, Francee, who has now given birth.
Throughout the film, themes of obsession, violence, and the dark sides of human nature are explored against the backdrop of a society riddled with suspicion and danger. The story emphasizes the tragic consequences of unchecked emotions and the destructive power of obsession, culminating in a tense and emotional resolution that ties together personal vendettas and criminal intrigue.
