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Harlan Diehl murders his family at their farmhouse. He is shot by the police as he kills his sister. The tragedy leaves behind video footage he recorded and the Diehl baby survives.

In Marshall, Michigan, circa 2009, Julian Miller is assigned a journalism project about forgotten local stories. He chooses the Harlan Diehl case and enlists his girlfriend Riley as his project partner. He hopes to uncover the truth and craft a compelling documentary.

Julian borrows camera equipment and archive footage from Quinn, a former video store coworker who now works as a news station cataloger. This access gives him the tools to assemble his project and begin filming.

Julian recruits DeeDee, Nate, and Brianna to re-enact the Diehl murder, turning the project into a more intense, gore-fueled slasher film. The line between documentary and fiction blurs as the group films increasingly disturbing scenes.

One night, Quinn watches the aftermath footage, and Harlan's presence begins to awaken inside him. The video intercuts with his body, triggering a spiritual possession that lets Harlan project through Quinn.

Possessed by Harlan, Quinn begins killing people, starting with a coworker at the news station. The killings escalate as the demon's influence tightens its grip.

Julian and Riley dig into Harlan's backstory and learn he descends from Louis Le Prince. They discover a Diehl family baby who remains central to the mystery.

At Julian's workplace, Wylie recounts the Le Prince legend of stealing souls through film, tying it to the Diehl case. He explains how the evil spirit could pass from father to son across generations.

Nate is killed by Brianna, who has become possessed. The act marks a turning point as the possession strengthens its hold on Brianna and the others around them.

Quinn kills Brianna, and DeeDee is subsequently possessed by Quinn through a spy camera she finds. The line between victim and killer becomes increasingly blurred.

Quinn abducts Riley and kills Frank and DeeDee in quick succession. Julian seeks insight from retired newscaster Chris Safford about the Diehl case to make sense of the killings.

They uncover that Harlan raped his adoptive sister, and the couple conceived a baby. The baby was adopted by Julian's mother Anne, making Julian the child of Harlan.

After obtaining tapes from Frank, Quinn watches police footage that reveals Anne taking the baby. He realizes that Julian is Harlan's son.

Quinn kidnaps Julian and Riley, restraining them in the Diehl home while the electricity goes out. Riley frees herself and they escape with Julian as Anne arrives and shoots Quinn.

The next day, Anne is hospitalized and Julian and Riley review the police report about the murders. Julian then receives a video message that Quinn uses to possess him once again.