Guss, the young son of a divorced and remarried farmer, feels misunderstood by his family and at the religious boarding school he attends. He finds comfort in weekly visits from his mother, whom he sees again at the age of eleven, but she dies shortly afterwards. As an adult, Guss leaves the farm for the city to pursue a career in music. After many difficulties, he achieves some success. While visiting his father, he rediscovers the rift that separates him from his half-brothers.

When she takes up her new post at an eerie convalescent home deep in the French countryside, nurse Martine soon discovers that several missing co-workers may have fallen prey to an unspeakable evil rumored to roam the hallways at night. But as Martine looks deeper into the mystery, she suspects the home's aged residents know more about the menace than they let on.