Desolation

In the city of Los Angeles, a troubled actress named Monica Leskova tragically succumbs to her madness, ending her life by self-immolation. Meanwhile, in Elmira, New York, Katie Connor, a resilient rape survivor, learns from her friend Debbie that the Hollywood actor Jay Cutter is staying at their hotel for a film shoot. As Katie and Jay’s connection deepens, they gradually explore the contours of a romantic relationship.

Katie finds herself reluctant to open up about her traumatic experiences, including her rape and the subsequent abortion, during her sessions with a distracted therapist whose tablet has malfunctioned. In an impulsive decision, Katie agrees to join Jay in Los Angeles, moving into his apartment located in The Providence—an eerie old building with a grim legacy of suicides and murders. Soon after moving in, she encounters Father Bill O’Shea, Jay’s mysterious upstairs neighbor.

After treating her to a new wardrobe, Jay invites Katie to a lively party where she meets his callous friends. However, things take a dark turn when Katie overhears them discussing the tragic death of Jay’s former girlfriend, Monica. The situation worsens when Katie realizes she has run out of her medication. Returning to her new home, she experiences a strange episode in the dark stairwell, where she believes she sees a ghostly figure—a little girl named Grace.

Throughout their time together, Katie and Jay share intimate stories of their respective suicide attempts. The apartment is filled with eccentric neighbors, including an overweight woman who works as an online camgirl. Katie encounters Grace once more and becomes increasingly paranoid when she feels like a window washer is voyeuristically observing her from outside.

When Jay leaves for a three-day film shoot, Katie finds herself alone. She meets a bewildered resident named Angela Marcus and inquires about Grace from Father Bill, who insists that no children live in their building. As her paranoia escalates, Katie starts taking pills found in Jay’s medicine cabinet and begins to explore a bizarre server room, where she sees Grace again.

A chilling message appears on the ceiling instructing her to count to seven in the kitchen. Following these instructions leads her to a phone call where a man requests to speak to Grace. The call takes a sinister turn when another caller claims to be her rapist, Charlie. After a series of distressing events, including an encounter with aggressive men in the apartment, Katie is left traumatized and begins to unravel the web of deception around her.

Katie’s escalating panic culminates in a confrontation with Bill, who shockingly reveals that her fears are manifestations of guilt over having aborted Grace. The depths of Katie’s nightmare deepen as she discovers she has been unknowingly participating in a twisted reality show called LifeBet, where her suicidal journey is exploited for profit.

In a fit of rage, Katie attacks the actress who portrayed a police officer in the show and is blindsided when Debbie arrives, only to meet a gruesome end at Bill’s hands. Desperate and filled with anguish, Katie holds Jay hostage and forces him to the roof where a horrifying confrontation with Bill ensues. Betrayed, Katie witnesses Bill purposely shoot Jay and manipulates her into considering suicide.

Ultimately, Katie takes a leap off the rooftop but miraculously survives the fall. As authorities arrive to assist her, Bill coldly orders the obliteration of all evidence related to their sordid venture and discusses relocating the LifeBet operation to Bulgaria while planning their next victim. The chilling events trap Katie in a seemingly inescapable cycle of horror, betrayal, and exploitation.

Last Updated: October 25, 2024 at 11:37