The Possessed

Based on the 1872 novel Demons by Fyodor Dostoyevsky, the setting is the provincial Russian estates of Stepan Trofimovich Verkhovensky and Varvara Stavrogin. Stepan Trofimovich's son, Pyotr Verkhovensky, is an aspiring revolutionary conspirator who attempts to organize a band of revolutionaries in the area. He considers Varvara Stavrogin's son, Nikolai, central to his plot because he thinks Nikolai Stavrogin has no sympathy for mankind whatsoever.

The story unfolds as Verkhovensky begins to gather co-conspirators and then schemes to solidify their loyalty to him and each other by weaving an intricate plan of murder and suicide. But his schemes quickly hit a series of snags, thereby putting the plans of a revolution in jeopardy.