Teenage friends Victor, Lex, Scott, Nick, and Marcus decide to film a variation of 'The Charlie Charlie Challenge.' During this video, Victor reads a passage from 'The Gallows,' a play rumored to be cursed and responsible for the death of high school actor Charlie Grimille. Following their video, strange paranormal occurrences begin to torment them in the basement. Tragically, Victor discovers Marcus hanging from the swing set chains outside. Soon after, he himself falls victim to the supposedly supernatural serial killer known as The Hangman, who strangles him using yet another chain.
Meanwhile, aspiring actress Auna Rue relocates to live with her sister Lisa, a prop and dressmaker, so she can attend the esteemed Fellbrook High School, renowned for its drama program. On her debut day, Auna faces humiliation while performing a monologue from 'Return to Thayolund' in Mr. Schlake’s class, which has been her childhood obsession. However, she manages to regain some confidence when schoolmate Cade Parker shows romantic interest in her.
On her underwhelming YouTube channel, Auna receives a message from an anonymous user named almostfamous99, who connects her to Victor's viral video, alleging supernatural events triggered by readings from 'The Gallows.' Hoping to increase her subscriber count after witnessing Victor's staggering 16 million views, Auna checks out the play from the school library, leading to an intense obsession. She later uploads her own reading of the piece, which surprisingly captivates audiences.
Impressing her class during a performance of 'The Gallows,' Auna soon finds herself soaring in popularity when viewers notice a table moving behind her as she reads. In a subsequent video, a mysterious object flies across her bedroom, further increasing her notoriety. A romantic ice cream date with Cade deepens their bond, during which he introduces her to his parents, famed actors Craig and Kate Parker.
Auna experiences a terrifying incident at a gas station when she glimpses a reflection of a hanging man in her rearview mirror. At this point, two young girls, enamored fans of her YouTube channel, approach her for a selfie, inadvertently revealing that a figure loomed ominously behind her during her recent video. Additional messages from almostfamous99 lead Auna to an online Charlie Challenge fan page, where she discovers more chilling details about Charlie Grimille and the hanging incidents linked to him.
Subsequent eerie happenings, including a closet door slamming on Auna's hand and the sighting of The Hangman stalking her, begin to unravel her mind. During a party, Auna and Cade sneak away to a treehouse, where an unexpected vision reveals The Hangman killing Cade. Startled, Auna’s grip tightens around Cade's neck amid their kiss, resulting in a demand to return home.
Disturbingly, 'Return to Thayolund' plays on Lisa’s TV, while The Hangman's presence continues to haunt them. In distress, Auna confides in Mr. Schlake about her reluctance to read from 'The Gallows' anymore. Surprisingly, she recites a passage from the play, even convinced she was rehearsing for 'Return to Thayolund.' Auna ultimately blocks almostfamous99 as his messages turn menacing. The situation worsens as Auna watches distressing videos of Lex, who shares her disfiguring neck mark, contemplating suicide during a livestream likely to involve The Hangman.
Tensions escalate when Lisa discovers their dog hanged outside; in a fit of rage, she rips up Auna's copy of 'The Gallows,' insisting it inflicts pain upon them. In a desperate attempt to save Lex during her live stream, Auna’s intervention proves too late when Lex succumbs to The Hangman’s threat. Auna’s copy of the cursed play mysteriously returns to her possession, leading to a pivotal audition for a full scholarship with Scott Lamont. Although he is impressed, Auna envisions a noose around him during the reading.
As Lisa prepares to leave for her show, her suitcase eerily vanishes, leaving them both shaken as paranormal disturbances wreak havoc inside their home. The Hangman ensnares Lisa, leaving Auna distraught. Uncovering a chilling connection, Cade researches the tragic history at Beatrice High School, discovering that invoking the name of Charlie Grimille can summon the ghostly figure of The Hangman, which connects to the deaths of Pfeifer Ross and her mother.
With almostfamous99’s relentless harassment looming over them, Cade leads Auna to Pfeifer’s asylum in hopes of uncovering a way to break The Hangman’s curse. Pfeifer cryptically warns that the only method of appeasing The Hangman involves offering a willing sacrifice. Subsequently, Cade and Auna find themselves unexpectedly abducted and hung on gallows in a desolate forest, facing the terrifying ultimatum of deciding who shall be the sacrifice.
Before Auna can intervene, Cade volunteers, resulting in a trapdoor beneath him. In a desperate bid for survival, Auna pleas for her life in exchange for Cade’s, but tragically, she becomes the one to hang. Following Auna’s tragic death, several additional hangmen appear from the shadows, revealing themselves as Victor, Lex, Cade’s family, and her adorning fans—unmasking a larger conspiracy orchestrated to drive Auna into insanity. As the last revelation hits, Cade admits his role as almostfamous99, addressing the camera, proclaiming the success of their nefarious Charlie Challenge experiment.
