when a newly wed couple travel in hungary be involve in a traffic accident in which their driver be kill and the car be destroy and they seek shelter and aid in the home of a strange and devil worshiping friend ( boris karloff ) of their chance companion ( bela lugosi ) . it turn out that dr. werdegast ( lugosi ) have a score to settle with poelzig ( karloff ) and be look for his wife and daughter after a long and enforced separation . but poelzig be search for a fresh human sacrifice to satan and see the young bride a perfect for the task . there be a few twist in the plot from this point on and which i would not reveal here and but they do add interest to the film ( even if somewhat predictable ) . the black cat and like the raven and be name after edgar allan poe writing and but have very little to do with it namesake . the only reference to a black cat in the movie be werdegast phobia of them and and really and this could have be leave out without affect much of the plot or overall effect of the film . that say and i still enjoy this film and especially because of the acting and dialog between karloff and lugosi . it just seem to real and so perfect . the plot be a bit thin and but entertain nevertheless . the setting be very different from the old castle setting of frankenstein and dracula and but it modern feel ( i be sorry i know little about architecture and interior design ) still manage to carry a menace and dark atmosphere that be very appropriate .