Strange Confession is a 1945 American horror film directed by John Hoffman and starring Lon Chaney Jr., Brenda Joyce, and J. Carrol Naish. The film begins with Paul Christian (Chaney Jr.), a scientist who creates a serum to cure influenza, but his boss, Roger Graham (Naish), decides to release it before it's fully tested and approved. Paul tries to stop him, but fails.
Unfortunately, the vaccine causes severe side-effects and leads to the death of Paul's young son. Paul becomes consumed by grief and feels responsible for his son's death. He quits his job, leading him to a life of poverty, alcoholism, and depression.
Several years later, Paul works as a janitor in a laboratory and meets a young scientist, Mary (Joyce), who has created a new serum to cure a deadly disease. Paul sees an opportunity to redeem himself and volunteers to test the serum himself, knowing that it will be dangerous. Miraculously, he survives the test and the serum is eventually approved.
However, Paul's past catches up with him, and he is accused of stealing the serum. He goes on the run to clear his name, but eventually confesses to the authorities. In the end, he is exonerated, and the serum saves countless lives.
The film explores themes of revenge, guilt, and redemption and received positive reviews upon its release. It is known for Chaney's strong performance and effective use of lighting and shadows to create tension and atmosphere.