Villain(s)  Evil Doctor

Actor(s):  Rose Hobart, George Macready, Jim Bannon, Jeanne Bates

Brief Description  The Soul of a Monster (1944) is a 61-minute, atmospheric B-horror film produced by Columbia Pictures, heavily influenced by the moody, psychological style of Val Lewton's RKO horror movies. Directed by Will Jason and written by Edward Dein, the story serves as a modern Faustian tale focused on hypnosis, demonic possession, and the corruptive nature of evil rather than physical monsters. Released as a double feature alongside Cry of the Werewolf on August 17, 1944, the film is known for its high artistic pretensions despite its low budget. While the script is sometimes criticized as clunky, film historians praise its eerie, fog-drenched, and psychological atmosphere.

Plot:
The Desperate Pact: Dr. George Winson (George Macready), a highly respected and philanthropic surgeon, lies on his deathbed due to a severe infection. Stricken with grief, his wife Ann (Jeanne Bates) prays to anyone or anything in the great beyond—be it good, evil, man, or devil—begging for his life to be spared.

The Arrival: Instantly answering her plea, a mysterious woman named Lilyan Gregg (Rose Hobart) arrives at the house amidst a windy night, displaying uncanny hypnotic powers. She demands to be left alone in the room with the dying surgeon.

The Transformation: The next day, Dr. Winson miraculously recovers, but his kind soul is gone. He has become cold, cruel, and completely dominated by Lilyan. Family friend Fred Stevens (Erik Rolf) realizes something is supernatural when he notices flowers wilting at George's touch, and later suspects George of killing his own beloved dog.

The Descent Into Evil: Lilyan completely alienates George from his wife. Under her psychic thrall, George attempts to murder Fred with an ice pick. Later, Lilyan demands the ultimate price for his survival: he must allow his best friend and medical partner, Dr. Roger Vance (Jim Bannon), to die, fully sealing his pact with the devil.

The Counteroffensive: Ann, Fred, and Roger remain immune to Lilyan's mesmerizing prowess. Realizing his soul is the currency keeping him alive, George fights against her influence. Together with his friends, they launch a desperate counteroffensive to break the Dark Prince's hold before Roger is killed.