The film opens when Sophie (Mackenzie Imsand) is awakened by her mother, Helena (Rosie Fellner), screaming, supposedly after murdering her husband. Kate Fuller (Olga Kurylenko), a criminal psychologist, is called to the scene of the crime by Detective McCarthy (Lance E. Nichols) to diagnose Helena and deduce whether to commit her to a mental institute. Upon interviewing both Helena and Sophie, both insist that Mr. Wynsfield was killed by the sleep demon, Mara. Despite promises to Sophie that she would not take Helena away if Sophie talked, Kate signs to have her committed, both to their despair and Kate's guilt.