The story unfolds entirely through a screencast recorded by an unidentified individual, immersing the viewer in a sequence of vlogs presented by the controversial vlogger, DropTheMike, who mysteriously vanished shortly after his visit to the Lennox Hotel in downtown Los Angeles. Throughout these vlogs, DropTheMike grapples with a growing number of messages from friends who wish to reach out to him, yet most go ignored.
Upon receiving a lucrative sponsorship offer of $250,000 that hinges on gaining 50,000 new subscribers, Mike decides to spend the Halloween weekend at the infamous Lennox Hotel—a place heavily shadowed by a dark history of numerous suicides and murders that have occurred since its establishment. Chillingly, the recent discovery of the burned corpse of Korean tourist Meghan Kim reveals the hotel's haunted past, with security footage showing her in a disturbing state of agitation in the elevator prior to her tragic demise.
During his exploration, Mike interviews Wallace Fleischer, a knowledgeable author who shares unsettling stories about David Olmos, a notorious serial killer and Satanist who terrorized the Lennox Hotel in the 1980s. The following day, Mike, along with his team—Nic (his editor), Chris (the religious director of photography), and Dani (sound and camera operator and Chris’ friend with unreciprocated feelings)—checks into the hotel. They find themselves staying on the top floor in the very room where Olmos committed his heinous acts.
On their second day, the crew attempts to venture into the basement, aiming to reach the boiler room, but they lose their drone when it is sent through the chained doors. Fortunately, a security guard named Tony catches them, but instead of turning them in, he reveals his admiration for Mike and offers them the key to the basement.
As the crew delves deeper into the hotel's secrets, Mike begins to research the "Elevator Game," a ritual believed to transport individuals to another dimension. He speculates that Meghan Kim may have attempted this eerie ritual, provoking him to try it himself. What follows is a chilling encounter with the ghost of Kim, which Mike hastily dismisses as mere coincidence. Shortly after, he receives an emotional Skype call from Jess, his fiancée, announcing her pregnancy—a moment of joy overshadowed by the tension unfolding around him.
The horror escalates when Chris discovers Nic in a deeply troubled state, leading to confrontations that blur the lines between reality and the supernatural. As ghostly noises echo through the halls and Mike chases a spectral child, he and Dani unearth a satanic altar adorned with a grotesque offering. The sinister atmosphere thickens further when they discover more about the past tragedies tied to Room 440, a significant location in the hotel’s harrowing history.
The story takes a drastic turn as Chris finds himself under attack from the spectral figure of Olmos, triggering a chaotic series of events that force the characters to confront not only the malevolent spirits haunting the hotel but also their own personal demons. Moments of terror lead to harrowing revelations, including Mike's connection to the dark history of the hotel and its gruesome past.
As tensions peak, every character faces choices that will impact their very souls. Mike’s journey culminates in a chaotic discovery of a laptop showcasing his broadcasts and accompanying notes filled with occult signs. Amid the terror, he is pursued by various spirits, culminating in a frantic escape from the hotel, only to confront a new nightmare back home.
The story concludes with DropTheMike's intention to take a hiatus from his channel, signaling a shift towards documenting the homeless crisis in Los Angeles. Yet, as an ominous presence lurks around him, the reflection of his blurred face in the laptop’s camera leaves the audience both disturbed and curious about his fate, as the chilling narrative continues through the lens of another young vlogger, TerribleTyler. The cycle of horror seems far from over as the final comment left under Mike's account hints at an unsettling return: "Can't wait to meet you, Tyler :)"
