Ambitious, knowledge-hungry student Victor Frankenstein lights upon the secret of breathing life into inanimate objects. After fathering a collection of body parts, he embarks on a macabre construction exercise, endowing the fruits of his labours with the life force. Having succeeded in his aim, Frankenstein recoils in horror at the 'demoniacal corpse' he has created. He abandons the monster, who inspires fear in those he meets. Craving acceptance and affection but facing unrelenting rejection, the monster wreaks his revenge on his creator, who finds that playing God is a dangerous game; that with power comes responsibility.