Plot

From Michael McDowell, the writer of Beetlejuice (1988) and The Nightmare Before Christmas (1993), comes a chilling tale of supernatural vengeance.

In a sleepy southern town, the Larkin family suffers a terrible tragedy. Now the Larkins are about to endure another: traffic lights blink an eerie warning; a ghostly visage prowls the streets; and graves erupt at the local cemetery in an implacable march of terror . . . And beneath the murky surface of the river, a shifting, almost human shape slowly takes form to seek a terrible vengeance.—Rovi

In the tiny town of Babylon, Florida, the tranquil life is shattered when sixteen-year-old Margaret Larkin (Sara Catherine Bellamy) mysteriously goes missing. The close-knit community is plunged into despair when her body is discovered in the river, horrifyingly tied to her own bicycle. This shocking murder sends ripples of fear through the town, igniting a desperate search for the killer.

As the investigation unfolds, attention turns to Nathan Redfield (Josh Stewart), the sociopathic son of the town's prominent banker, James Redfield (Christopher Lloyd). Nathan is cold and calculating, hiding his malevolent intentions behind a veneer of normalcy. His sinister plan involves murdering the entire Larkin family to force the sale of their petroleum-rich property, which his father's bank desperately wants to acquire. Nathan's chilling ruthlessness becomes evident as he meticulously plans each step to eliminate the Larkins and seize their land.

Nathan's malevolence doesn't end with murder; he also crafts a scheme to frame Principal Harris (Marcus Lyle Brown), the high school principal, for the killings. By manipulating evidence and leveraging his influence, Nathan aims to divert suspicion from himself and ensure the Larkin property can be seized without resistance. His confidence in his ability to manipulate the town and the investigation fuels his relentless pursuit of his goal.

However, Nathan's meticulously laid plans begin to unravel in a horrifying twist of fate. The Larkin family returns from the grave, transformed into vengeful spirits. These phantasms, invisible to everyone except Nathan, torment him relentlessly. Their ghostly appearances drive Nathan to the brink of madness, as he grapples with the increasingly vivid and terrifying hallucinations.

Nathan's psychological state deteriorates rapidly. His attempts to drown out the visions with alcohol only exacerbate his descent into madness. The once composed and calculating murderer becomes increasingly erratic, consumed by guilt, fear, and paranoia. The ghostly Larkins are relentless, haunting Nathan and reminding him of his heinous deeds.

As Nathan's grip on reality slips, his behavior becomes more erratic and violent. He lashes out, driven by the tormenting apparitions that haunt him day and night. His desperation leads to a series of increasingly reckless actions, alienating those around him and drawing further suspicion.

In the film's gripping climax, Nathan's unraveling reaches a breaking point. The vengeful spirits of the Larkin family exact their final revenge, driving Nathan to an ultimate act of desperation. Confronted by the full weight of his guilt and the relentless torment of the ghosts, Nathan meets a fittingly grim end. His carefully constructed façade collapses, and he is consumed by the very horrors he sought to inflict on others.

The town of Babylon is left to grapple with the aftermath of the murders and the exposed corruption of the Redfield family. The eerie, supernatural justice that befell their community serves as a chilling reminder of the darkness that lurks beneath the surface of seemingly peaceful towns.