MysterywriterJanetFrobisherlivesaloneinadarkEnglishcountryhouse,whenshe'snotphilanderingwithhersecretary'sfiancée.Atanextremelyawkwardmoment,shehasanunwelcomevisitor:GeorgeBates,whoclaimstobethepartnerincrimeofJanet'sestrangedhusband.Thefilm,adaptedfromSarahParrish'splay,centersontheintricateandtensecat-and-mousegamebetweenJanetandGeorge.GeorgeinsinuateshimselfintoJanet'shomeandlifedespitehereffortstogetridofhim.Theirtangledrelationshipsdevelopintoomacabreandmurderousdynamic.Thepictureisaprivateandintensestudyoffear,envy,anddeception,featuringoutstandingperformancesfromBetteDavisandGaryMerriell,establishingitasmilestoneinthecrimefilmgenre.