The Raven (1935)

After Jean Thatcher (Ware) has been injured in a car accident,
her father, Judge Thatcher (Hinds) and beau Jerry (Matthews)
implore retired surgeon Dr. Richard Vollin (Lugosi) to perform a
delicate operation to restore her to health. Vollin agrees and is
successful; he befriends the spirited and grateful Jean, in the
process revealing his passion for all things related to Edgar
Allan Poe, including his homemade collection of torture devices
inspired by Poe's works (such as a pit, pendulum with crescent
razor, shrinking room, etc.), and identifying the raven as his
talisman.


After Vollin reveals his growing love for Jean to her father, the
Judge quickly discourages him from the affair. Angered, Vollin
hatches a plan when Edmond Bateman (Karloff), a murderer on the
run, comes to his home asking for a new face so he may live in
anonymity. Vollin admits to not being a plastic surgeon, but says
he can help Bateman, and asks him to help in exacting revenge on
the Thatchers, which he refuses. Bateman explains that he feels
his antisocial behavior is a result of having been called ugly
all his life, and he hopes a new face may gave him a chance to
end it. Vollin performs the surgery, but instead turns Bateman
into a disfigured monster, promising only to operate again on
Bateman when Vollin's revenge is exacted. Bateman finally
reluctantly agrees.


Vollin hosts a dinner party, among which Jean, Jerry, and the
Judge are guests. One by one, the guests are caught in the
Poe-inspired traps. Ultimately, Bateman is shot by Vollin as he
rescues Jean and Jerry, but throws Vollin into the shrinking room
where he perishes, and the guests escape.