The Bowen family - Eric, Amy, Kendra, Griffin, and Madison - move into their new residence, which quickly reveals itself to be far from ordinary. Upon their arrival, young Griffin begins to explore the house. He soon observes Maddie conversing with an unseen being in front of her closet. Frustrated with his attic room and the odd sounds echoing through the house, Griffin finds a mysterious red ball on a string in the cellar, which triggers a cascade of creepy clown dolls to spill forth. This unsettling spectacle is interrupted by a startled squirrel, prompting Griffin to opt for sleeping elsewhere until the critter leaves.
Griffin discovers Maddie once again engaging with the closet, showcasing a trick that causes her hair to stand on end when she touches the handle, leading to shared laughter between the siblings. However, what once was a playful interaction transforms as strange occurrences begin plaguing their home; electrical devices start turning on without warning, and Kendra's phone meets an untimely demise, which she hastily blames on Griffin. As night falls, toys mysteriously activate, and Griffin witnesses a chilling scene with Maddie in front of the television, where unseen hands press against the screen. This terrifying moment escalates when Maddie cryptically states, > "They're here."
While Griffin's concerns go largely ignored by his family, his frustration boils over, and he confronts his parents about their dismissiveness, resulting in a hurt retreat to his room. Meanwhile, Eric and Amy enjoy dinner with friends, where they learn that their home is situated above an ancient burial ground. The spirits begin to haunt the children more intensely, leading Kendra to experience terrifying phenomena linked to her new phone and a creeping black sludge that springs forth from the basement.
During a fierce storm, the peculiarities mount; Griffin encounters the once-still clown dolls that now seem animated, ultimately fleeing to Maddie's room, where she finds herself inexplicably absorbed into the closet’s darkness. In desperation, Griffin tries to get help but is thwarted by the same life-threatening branches that ensnared him earlier. With the family’s safety at stake, they frantically search for Maddie, only for Griffin to hear her voice calling through the television.
The family reaches out to Dr. Brooke Powell for assistance, believing her paranormal expertise will provide the answers they desperately need. Griffin, burdened with guilt for abandoning Maddie, leads them to investigations that expose the malevolent forces at play. Paranormal happenings unfold, including Boyd, one of Brooke's assistants, being violently yanked into a wall. After several harrowing episodes, Brooke concludes that poltergeists are indeed present, and they're firmly tethered to Maddie’s unique connection with the supernatural.
Desperate to reclaim their daughter, the family collaborates with Carrigan Burke, a seasoned investigator and Brooke's ex-husband, who proposes a daring rescue plan. A rope is fashioned to bridge the vast distance between the closet and the living room ceiling, allowing for a risky venture through a portal where countless spirits lurk. Griffin, acting with bravery beyond his years, ventures into the unknown to save Maddie, leading to a chaotic climax where spirits and human cross paths in an explosive confrontation.
Ultimately, their escape seems within reach as they barely retrieve Maddie, but just as they think they’ve outwitted the spirits, a final onslaught commences, forcing Carrigan to make a heartbreaking sacrifice to secure the family's escape. As they flee, a radiant beam of light erupts from their former home, signaling the spirits' departure.
In the wake of such turmoil, the Bowens set their sights on new beginnings, scouting another house while vowing to leave the past behind. Yet, even as Carrigan is revealed to have survived, the eerie specter of their experiences lingers, leaving them forever changed as they embark on a quest for safety, away from supernatural shadows.
