Dr. Caligari is a hypnotist and fairground entertainer and, together with his medium Cesare, the great attraction in a small northern German town. At night, though, Cesare commits gruesome murders under the influence of Dr. Caligari. A student named Francis uncovers the creepy constellation and ensures that the doctor is hunted down. But when Francis thinks that Dr. Caligari has been cornered in an insane asylum, he finds out that he is actually the director of the institution.