A monstrous, eight foot tall robot with a fearsome face and sharp, fang-like teeth emerges from a vault in the laboratory of the mad Dr. Alex Zorka. The insane scientist hopes to create an army of such monsters in his bid to conquer the world. He's also developed an invisibility ray, discovered a deadly new element from outer space and mastered the secret of suspended animation. The U.S. government would like to take control of Zorka's scientific breakthroughs, but the scientist is more interested in vengeance and world conquest. Captain Bob West of U.S. Military Intelligence fights to put these incredible powers in safe hands, but he's up against a foreign spy ring hell-bent on obtaining Zorka's secrets for America's enemies. The good guys race to stop Zorka before his warped plans for massive world destruction can be implemented.
The Phantom Creeps was compiled from episodes of the 12-chapter Universal serial of the same name. Bela Lugosi was at his performing peak, playing the role of Dr. Zorka with unbridled emotion. The film borrows many elements from Universal's previous horror film outings, including recognizable sets and music cues lifted from Frankenstein movies and scenes from Lugosi's earlier film, The Invisible Ray. The Phantom Creeps was directed by Ford Beebe and action editor Saul Goodkind. Beebe helmed many other serial classics including S.O.S. Coast Guard, Ace Drummond, Flash Gordon's Trip To Mars, Buck Rogers, and two Don Winslow cliffhangers. He is also noted for directing the Universal classics Night Monster (1942) and The Invisible Man's Revenge (1944). The Phantom Creeps also reunites Lugosi with his nemesis, Edward Van Sloan, who played Van Helsing in Dracula (1931).