The Man Who Haunted Himself

The Man Who Haunted Himself

Year: 1970

Runtime: 88 mins

Language: English

Director: Basil Dearden

DramaThrillerHorror

Plagued by relentless fear day and night, executive Harold Pelham is badly injured in a serious accident that brings him face‑to‑face with death. Miraculously surviving against all odds, he soon realizes that his existence is no longer his own, as an unseen presence seems to control his life.

The Man Who Haunted Himself (1970) – Spoiler-Free Movie Summary & Plot Overview

Get a spoiler-free look at The Man Who Haunted Himself (1970) 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 the sleek, rain‑slick streets of London, a world of high‑stakes corporate ambition collides with the quiet hum of scientific discovery. Within the glass‑walled headquarters of a marine‑technology firm, executives juggle mergers and cutting‑edge inventions while the city outside moves in a perpetual state of muted tension. The film’s atmosphere leans heavily on muted colour palettes and a lingering, almost tactile sense of dread, inviting the audience to breathe in the same oppressive air that its characters feel.

Harold Pelham is a meticulous director whose life is built on control and precision. Plagued by relentless fear, he pushes himself to the brink of recklessness, a habit that culminates in a catastrophic accident that teeters on the edge of death. Miraculously surviving, he awakens to a world that feels subtly altered—every reflection seems off‑kilter, every familiar face flickers with an unfamiliar awareness. The experience leaves him questioning whether he is still the master of his own existence.

As Harold returns to his corporate life, unsettling coincidences begin to surface. Colleagues recall conversations he never remembers holding, strangers claim to have seen him in places he has never been, and his own home feels invaded by an unseen presence that mirrors his gestures and habits. Seeking clarity, he turns to a seasoned psychiatrist, Dr. Harris, whose calm demeanor offers a measured perspective on the growing dissonance. The doctor hints at the fragility of identity when it is strained by trauma, suggesting that Harold’s disciplined exterior may be masking something far more volatile.

The film drifts between moments of stark realism and surreal unease, constantly probing the thin line between sanity and fragmentation. Through moody cinematography and a haunting score, it raises a timeless question: when the self is split in two, which half will claim the right to live? The answer remains hidden in the shadows, inviting viewers to linger in the ambiguity long after the credits roll.

Last Updated: December 04, 2025 at 23:10

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Psychological Descent Thrillers like The Man Who Haunted Himself

Stories where a character's sanity unravels as reality becomes untrustworthy.If you enjoyed the unsettling psychological collapse in The Man Who Haunted Himself, explore these movies where characters confront a crumbling reality. These stories share a tense, claustrophobic atmosphere and themes of identity crisis, presenting similar feelings of existential threat and loss of control.

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Narrative Summary

Narratives in this thread typically follow a central character who experiences a gradual or sudden breakdown of their perceived reality. They face a mysterious force—be it a doppelgänger, a supernatural presence, or their own fractured mind—that systematically dismantles their life, leading to a crisis of identity and a bleak confrontation with an inescapable fate.

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Thrillers where professional life becomes a backdrop for psychological horror.For viewers who liked the blend of corporate drama and supernatural dread in The Man Who Haunted Himself, this list features similar stories. These films explore how a seemingly stable life can be hijacked by unseen forces, creating a unique vibe of existential horror within a professional setting.

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Narrative Summary

The narrative pattern involves a successful, often stoic professional whose life is meticulously controlled. This control is shattered by an external force—psychological, supernatural, or technological—that uses the structures of their career as a weapon against them. The story explores the fragility of identity when it is tied to professional success, leading to a complete personal downfall.

Why These Movies?

These films share a specific mood that mixes the anxiety of high-stakes professional life with the terror of the unknown. They combine a steady, deliberate pacing with high intensity, creating a claustrophobic feeling where the protagonist's world—both boardroom and home—becomes a prison. The tone is consistently tense and bleak.

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