This surreal parable is about an evening party whose visitors cannot leave the room for inexplicable reasons. Days pass, people become nervous and hysterical. Food and water run out. One of the guests dies, a young couple commits suicide. Although they manage to escape in the end, the game is repeated in the church at the thanksgiving service.

The Spaniard Luis Buñuel Portolés (1900-83) is undoubtedly one of the most important film directors of the 20th century. His central themes are surrealist daydreams, the blasé bourgeoisie, criticism of the state and the church. Several times he collaborated with Salvador Dalí. The title and atmosphere of the excellent film »Der Würgeengel« influenced Elfriede Jelinek in her play »Rechnitz (The Exterminating Angel)«.