In the nineteen century, a man seeks help from a necromancer, asking her to revive his beloved wife. The woman advises him that the process could be dangerous and proposes that he listen to Haeckel's story to help in him understand what he is asking. Ernst Haeckel is a cocky medical student fascinated with resuscitation. In his search for true reanimation he meets the necromancer Montesquino, who claims to have the ability to bring the dead back to life. Shortly after this meeting Haekel learns that his father's illness has become terminal and travels to seen him. One night while preparing to spend the night near a cemetery, an old man Walter Wolfram offers him shelter in his home, telling him that it would be very dangerous to stay near the necropolis. Haeckel accepts the invitation and meets his young wife Elise Wolfram. He feels seduced by the young beautiful woman, but soon discovers the couple have a dark secret.