《焚尸人》根据拉迪斯拉夫·富克斯的同名小说改编。讲述了一个令人毛骨悚然的故事。卡尔是火葬场的管理人,他是反犹太主义者,并极其迷恋死亡。适逢纳粹侵略捷克斯洛伐克,他认为自己大展宏图的机会来了,但正当他准备大显身手时,却发现自己的妻子不是“纯净”的血统。这个事实让他走上了疯狂之路。他准备谋杀自己的妻子和同样不“纯洁”的儿子。Kopfrkingl enjoys his job at a crematorium in Czechoslovakia in the late 1930s. He likes reading the Tibetan book of the dead, and espouses the view that cremation relieves earthly suffering. At a reception, he meets Reineke, with whom he fought for Austria in the first World War. Reineke convinces Kopfrkingl to emphasize his supposedly German heritage, including sending his timid son to the German school. Reineke then suggests that Kopfrkingl's half-Jewish wife is holding back his advancement in his job.