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Spoiler-Free Summary

The Power (1968) Spoiler-Free Summary – What It's About

Release, runtime and language
1968 · 108 mins · English
Directed by
Byron Haskin
Starring
Suzanne Pleshette, Yvonne De Carlo, Ken Murray, Nehemiah Persoff, Vaughn Taylor, Richard Carlson

A secret project team discovers a deadly force: members are slain one by one by an invisible telekinetic power that can move objects with the mind. As fear spreads, the survivors must race against time to uncover which of them wields the lethal ability and stop the murders before it’s too late.

On this page (6)
  1. 1 What it is about
  2. 2 Is it worth watching?
  3. 3 After you watch
  4. 4 Movie threads
  5. 5 Movies like The Power
  6. 6 Every angle

Spoiler-free summary · safe to read

What Is The Power About? (No Spoilers)

The plot of The Power (1968) without spoilers: what it is about, who it follows and where it takes place, told without the twists or the ending. Enough to decide whether it is your next watch, not enough to ruin it.

In a hidden research complex dedicated to the space program, a covert initiative called the Committee on Human Endurance pushes the limits of what the human body—and mind—can endure. Led by the enigmatic anthropologist Prof. Henry Hallson, the team designs secretive questionnaires to identify individuals with extraordinary resilience, turning a sterile laboratory into a crucible of whispered ambition. The setting feels both clinical and claustrophobic, a place where scientific rigor collides with the uncharted possibilities of the human psyche, setting a tone that is equal parts methodical and unsettling.

The committee gathers a tight‑knit group of specialists: biologist Prof. Jim Tanner, geneticist Prof. Margery Lansing, physicist Prof. Talbot Scott, and several other brilliant but guarded colleagues. Their interactions are marked by professional respect tinged with underlying rivalry, each member aware that the project’s stakes reach far beyond ordinary research. As they conduct a seemingly innocuous telekinesis experiment, a palpable tension surfaces—an invisible force begins to manifest, suggesting that some hidden capacity among them may be far more potent—and far more dangerous—than they ever imagined.

When members start to fall victim to an unseen, telekinetic power, fear ripples through the laboratory’s corridors, turning curiosity into dread. The survivors must grapple with the paradox of their own expertise: they are the ones trained to test human limits, yet now they are powerless against a threat that may arise from within. The film unfolds as a psychological thriller, blending cold scientific inquiry with an eerie, almost supernatural menace, leaving the audience to wonder which mind among the group holds the lethal ability and whether they can outwit a power that bends reality itself.

Last updated: December 04, 2025 at 23:19

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What to expect

Is The Power Worth Watching? What It Feels Like

Is it dark, sad, slow, intense or confusing? The mood of The Power (1968) in a few tags, without a word about how it ends. Each tag opens a list of movies that feel the same.

After you watch

Seen The Power? Now Read the Spoilers

Once you have watched The Power (1968), come back for the full story: the plot summary with spoilers, the timeline in chronological order, the characters and meaning.

Movie threads

More Movies Like The Power, by Mood & Story

Curated lists built around what makes The Power tick: the same mood, the same kind of story or the same emotional payoff. Each list explains why these movies belong together.

Claustrophobic paranoia thrillers like The Power

Stories where fear and suspicion turn allies into enemies in a confined space. If you enjoyed the tense, claustrophobic suspense of The Power, explore more movies like it. These films create a similar feeling of paranoid dread, often isolating characters in confined settings where trust evaporates and the enemy may be hiding in plain sight. Discover similar stories of psychological manipulation and survival under extreme pressure.

  • claustrophobic
  • paranoid
  • suspenseful
  • anxious
  • unsettling
  • tense
  • Tone: dark, tense, paranoid
  • Pacing: steady, suspenseful build
Why these movies?

The story pattern: These narratives typically involve a group of people facing an ambiguous threat, with the core conflict shifting from an external danger to the internal psychological warfare among the characters. The plot revolves around uncovering a traitor or a hidden killer, forcing everyone to question their perceptions and each other's motives, leading to a tense and often tragic unraveling.

Why they belong together: Movies in this thread are united by their masterful use of a claustrophobic atmosphere to amplify tension. They share a dark tone, high intensity from constant psychological danger, and a steady pacing that methodically builds suspense. The emotional journey is one of heavy anxiety and the chilling fear of betrayal.

Psychological horror movies with psychic powers like The Power

Tales where the horror stems from untrustworthy minds and unseen psychic forces. Fans of The Power who were captivated by its theme of deadly psychic abilities will find more to explore here. This list features movies similar to The Power, focusing on psychological horror where the mind itself is the weapon and reality becomes a battleground. Discover chilling stories of scientific hubris and the terrifying potential of untamed mental power.

  • cerebral
  • unsettling
  • psychological
  • chilling
  • anxious
  • supernatural
  • Tone: dark, unsettling, cerebral
  • Pacing: steady, methodical
Why these movies?

The story pattern: The narrative pattern often follows a discovery of extraordinary mental abilities, which quickly spiral out of control. The story explores the dark consequences of this power, pitting characters against a force they cannot see or fully comprehend. The journey is typically one of psychological disintegration, moral quandaries, and a fight for survival against an insidious, intangible enemy.

Why they belong together: These films are connected by their exploration of psychic horror and the theme of scientific experimentation gone wrong. They share a dark tone, a cerebral and unsettling mood, and a focus on the heavy emotional weight of confronting a reality-bending threat. The experience is defined by its psychological depth and its ability to generate fear from within.

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Movies Like The Power

Similar movies to The Power: the same genre, themes or kind of story. Each one comes with its own plot summary, timeline and ending explained.

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Every angle

The Power (1968) Explained: Plot, Timeline & Characters

Everything about The Power in one place: what happens in the plot summary, the timeline in chronological order, the characters and meaning and a spoiler-free summary. What's After the Movie adds the cast, box office and post-credit scenes.

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