In Pasadena, California, 1969, a young Mexican couple urgently seeks the assistance of medium Shaun San Dena. Their son has stolen some jewelry from a group of Gypsies just three days prior, and since then, he has been haunted by disturbing visions and sounds. During a seance, San Dena watches in horror as the boy is violently hurled from a balcony by an invisible force, ultimately being dragged into the depths of Hell by demonic hands. This event solidifies her vow to face this demon again one day.
Fast forward to forty years later, we meet Christine Brown (Alison Lohman), a dedicated loan officer at a local bank with aspirations of becoming the assistant manager. Her boss, Mr. Jacks (David Paymer), reveals that the promotion is a competitive race between her and the new employee, Stu Rubin (Reggie Lee). To impress Mr. Jacks, Christine makes a risky decision when an elderly gypsy woman, Mrs. Ganush (Lorna Raver), pleads for a mortgage extension due to her financial struggles but is ultimately turned down. In a moment of panic, Christine shoves the woman away, triggering a terrifying curse.
After a series of bizarre and frightening encounters, including a confrontation in which a furious Mrs. Ganush attacks her, Christine finds herself spiraling into a nightmare. She seeks advice from a fortune teller, Rham Jas, who reveals the identity of the demon—the Lamia—and the curse laid upon her by Mrs. Ganush. As the Lamia begins its relentless pursuit, Christine must confront her deepest fears, leading her to drastic measures to break the curse.
As terrifying events unfold, Christine struggles with her mental state while navigating her relationship with her boyfriend, Clay Dalton. A chilling visit to Mrs. Ganush's funeral takes a gruesome turn, leaving Christine covered in embalming fluid and questioning her safety. In her desperate quest for help, she resorts to a séance led by a desperate Shaun San Dena. However, her hopes are dashed when the Lamia reveals its intent to claim her soul.
Christine's journey becomes a harrowing race against time as she explores supernatural options to save herself. From a bizarre dinner with Clay's parents to terrorizing encounters with the demon at every turn, she desperately searches for a way to transfer the curse. When all seems lost, an unexpected proposal from Clay adds a moment of light in her darkening world. But fate takes a tragic turn when a slip-up causes Christine to inadvertently drop the cursed button in Clay's possession, sealing her terrifying fate.
Finally, after a frantic effort to bury the curse with a formal offering to Mrs. Ganush, Christine's plans unravel in a cataclysmic finale at the train station. As Clay prepares to propose, Christine discovers the horrific truth, leading to her ultimate downfall—where the malicious Lamia pulls her into Hell as Clay looks on in horror. His love is helpless against the powerful curse, leaving an indelible mark on their tragic love story.
