博兰顿(约翰•达尔John Dall 饰)和菲利普(法利•格兰杰 Farley Granger 饰)都是哈佛的高才生,一天,都是同性恋的两人合谋杀害了同学戴维,并藏尸于一个大箱子中。或许是出于炫耀,他们做出了一个惊人的举动。那就是用装着戴维尸体的箱子当餐桌,邀请了戴维的父母、未婚妻、同学和茹伯特教授(詹姆斯•斯图尔特 James Stewart 饰)来赴宴。他们谎称戴维外出了,和客人们在戴维的“棺材”上进行着宴会。胆小的菲利普从宴会开始就开始坐立不安,但是博兰顿却不慌不忙,在客人中滔滔不绝。然而,聪明的茹伯特教授从博兰顿的谈话中渐渐察觉出事有蹊跷……
作曲家以及音乐学院教授约翰•罗素(George C. Scott 饰)和妻子女儿共度假期,然而突如其来的车祸夺去妻女的性命。孤独悲伤的约翰离开纽约,来到西雅图一所大学任教。他在当地找到一栋已经空闲12年之久的旧房子,虽然破旧,但清静的环境正是和约翰的音乐创作。 但搬入后他却发现,每当早晨6点左右房子内就会传出奇怪的声音,不久后约翰更惊恐地意识到,房子里竟然还住着一个儿童的鬼魂。在鬼魂的示意下,约翰开始有意识的探究这栋房子背后所隐藏的秘密……
A vicious alligator named Ramon, who was flushed into the city sewer as a baby, survives to become a 32-foot-long menace who devours animals and people alike. Ramon's so huge because of the steady diet of dead pets - treated with growth hormones - that he's fed on for 12 years. Now the tremendous brute is angry and looking for revenge. Only detective David Madison knows of Ramon's existence, and it is his task to prove to the rest of the city that a tropical beast lives in their midst. Veteran screenwriter Sayles' script finds the perfect blend of comedy and horror, making this an entertaining romp through the sewers of Chicago.