The mysterious Crossley (Alan Bates) hijacks the life of an experimental sound artist, Anthony (John Hurt), and his wife, Rachel (Susannah York), in a remote coastal village in Devon. Crossley relates to them strange tales of his travels, most disturbingly the claim that he was taught by an indigenous Australian "witch doctor" to perform a shout which kills anyone who hears it. Anthony is skeptical, but as Crossley draws him into his world, things become increasingly sinister.

Skolimowski works convincingly with sound editor Alan Bell to create an unsettling, dreamlike atmosphere, using flashback as an alienating framing device that lures the viewer into Crossley's world.