The Secret Village

Rachel is surprised when Greg shows up early, asking for a place to crash while he finishes a thriller screenplay. He explains his unsupportive ex-girlfriend kicked him out, and they decide to head to a small Berkshire town rumored to suffer ergot poisoning. The pair feel an irresistible pull to explore the town’s legends, with Greg hoping to write a story and Rachel suspecting a real controversy behind the folklore.

Rachel questions the town’s history, convinced ergot poisoning could explain the witchcraft rumors that haunt the area, while Greg is eager to craft a thriller. They move from curiosity to determination, exploring how ergot might connect to the Salem legends. The locals grow tense and reluctant to revisit a painful past, warning them to stop digging.

Paul, a friendly townsman, shares glimpses into the town’s past, rumors of ergot poisoning, and a veiled conspiracy among the elders. He cautions that dangerous secrets run deep and that people will kill to protect them. Rachel presses for more details, convinced the clues point to something real.

Encouraged by Paul’s hints, Rachel continues to dig for evidence that could illuminate more than surface witchcraft tales. Greg remains supportive but keeps the focus on uncovering the truth. The tension in town rises as the pair push for more information.

Without warning, Greg vanishes, leaving Rachel to face the locals who taunt her. The sense of danger in the town sharpens as Rachel senses she is being watched. She fears she may be getting too close to the truth.

Greg reappears and tries to calm things with a dinner invitation, signaling that they should seek help from a specialist in New York. He reassures Rachel and urges patience, hinting that the truth requires expert insight. Rachel agrees, but she soon discovers Greg has quietly handed her research to Joe.

Undeterred, Rachel continues the investigation and Jim guides her to a house where kidnapped victims of ergot poisoning are kept. A tense sense of danger hangs in the air as they near the concealed location. Jim's information promises hard proof of a cover-up and possible cult activity.

A confrontation erupts when Joe corners Rachel and Jason injects her with a syringe. The struggle is tight as she fights to break free and hold onto her notes and equipment. The scene heightens the sense that the town is protecting its secrets at any cost.

In flashbacks, it’s revealed that Rachel has been suffering from ergot poisoning all along. Paul and Jim are revealed as hallucinations, while Joe and Jason are real townspeople who have been trying to help her. The revelation reframes every encounter as a mix of real danger and psychological distortion.

Greg has agreed to take her to a medical specialist in New York for treatment and confirmation of the condition. They set a course to leave the town and seek professional help, hoping to uncover the truth with expert guidance. The drive becomes a turning point as the mystery shifts from local legends to actionable medical reality.

As they head toward New York, Jim appears one final time, pleading for assistance. His presence hints that there are still protective forces at work and that the conspiracy is not yet unraveled. Rachel must decide whether to trust the spectral guidance or follow the living truth.

A mysterious pill Rachel swallows causes Jim to disappear, leaving her to confront the unfolding truth and looming danger. The town's true nature and her own illness become inseparably linked as she faces the final choices ahead. Greg's plan to seek help continues, but the final truth remains elusive.