This modern Gothic horror story drips with psychological terror instead of relying on dripping blood. Jane (Bette Davis) is the deranged former child star who lives with her disabled sister Blanche (Joan Crawford). Once the darling of vaudeville, Jane's attempts to parlay her childhood success as an adult fails miserably. Blanche, who was nondescript as a child, blossoms into one of Hollywood's biggest actresses. Jane is offered bit parts in forgettable films only at the insistence of her sister. Blanche's career is ended by an auto accident that leaves her confined to a wheelchair in her upstairs bedroom. As Jane continues her downward spiral brought on by alcohol and delusion, Blanche plans to sell their house and have Jane put in an institution. Hearing Blanche reveal her intentions while eavesdropping over the telephone, the enraged Jane subjects her sister to psychological tortures. She serves her a cooked rat for dinner, ties her up in bed, and pulls out the telephone chord so Balance can't call for help. Their maid Elvira (Maidie Norman) discovers Blanche after many days confined to her bed, bound and gaged by her sister. While attempting to free Blanche, Jane kills Elvira in the only episode of physical violence in the film. The insane Jane places an add for a musician in an abortive attempt to revive her childhood success. Edwin Flagg (Victor Buono) is the heavy set man who is the only one who responds to Jane's advertisement. He quickly plans to use Jane as a meal ticket to cut the apron strings to his overbearing, overprotective mother. He eventually runs out on her when he discovers Blanche nearly dead in her bedroom prison. Jane takes Blanche to a nearby beach where she plans to bury her alive in the sand. Blanche confesses that the auto accident that ended her career was an attempt to kill Jane that backfired. Jane has felt responsible for her sister's condition for years and was driven to alcoholism and insanity by guilt and her inability to succeed as an adult actress. The maid's body is discovered and police trace the sisters to the beach. The police watch in disbelief as the now completely insane Jane dances her childhood vaudeville routine around her motionless, crippled sister on the public beach. Davis and Buono received Oscar nominations for their gripping performances. Both Crawford and Davis had their careers revived by the film. Ironically, the role of Blanche was to be played by Davis, who was none-to-pleased when the role went to Crawford.