The Invisible Ray (1936 film)

The Invisible Ray is a 1936 American science fiction horror film directed by Lambert Hillyer and starring Boris Karloff and Bela Lugosi. The film centers around Dr. Janos Rukh (Karloff), a scientist obsessed with the element "Radium X," which he believes is a powerful ray of energy capable of both great good and terrible destruction.

The plot follows Rukh's expedition to Africa, where he discovers a meteorite containing Radium X. Exposure to the element gives him a strange power – the ability to emit invisible rays capable of killing. However, it also slowly drives him insane. As Rukh struggles to control his power and his growing madness, he becomes increasingly dangerous, using the ray to exact revenge on those he believes have wronged him.

Bela Lugosi plays Dr. Felix Benet, a sympathetic scientist and a friend of Rukh. Benet attempts to help Rukh control his condition and prevent him from harming others, utilizing a special serum. The film explores themes of scientific hubris, the dangers of unchecked ambition, and the destructive potential of scientific discoveries. The Invisible Ray is notable for its special effects, particularly the visual representation of the invisible ray itself, and for the compelling performances of Karloff and Lugosi.