American horror in which coroner Dr. Warren Chapin (Vincent Price) discovers a parasite which he names The Tingler, created in people's bodies as a by-product of fear before it crushes their spinal columns. The Tingler can only be subdued by its victims' screams, but when Dr. Chapin attempts to induce fear in himself, it all goes horribly wrong and before he can put a stop to it the pest goes on a rampage.