A young German pacifist finds documents in an old castle that prove Hitler didn't kill himself in April 1945, but fled to Spain disguised as a monk, and now works as a comedian in a remote town. He finds the former Führer in a small theater rehearsing a Charlot parody.

Paul Marnac and his infirm wife Geneviève move to his childhood estate in the French countryside. The estate is also the site of the castle inhabited by Paul's ancestor Alaric de Marnac, who was known for brutally slaughtering anyone whom he suspected of infidelity. There is a legend that Alaric rises from the grave to continue his deeds. The estate is currently inhabited by Paul's aunt Maville and cousin Julie. Right after Paul and Geneviève arrive, mysterious things begin to happen. Geneviève begins to wonder if the legend about Alaric is true.

After several nuclear explosions, two men and one woman wake up in the middle of a desert and begin a journey of survival and self-discovery.