NotlongafterJohnChambersandhisfamilyarriveattheirnewhomeinasmallcountrytownofPennsylvania,Johnbeginstoexperiencesleepparalysis.Lyingthereparalyzed,trappedwithinhisownnightmare,other-worldlybeingsvisitJohn.Theyareentitieswhichexistinthedarkestshadowsofthenightandcanonlybeseenoutofthecornerofone'seye.TheseencountersbegintohauntJohn,transformingtocompleteterrorashediscoverstheentities'solepurpose...theabductionofhissevenyearoldson.Intheend,Johnwilluncoverthetown'shorrificsecret,aportalonhisland,andmakeonelastattempttosavehissonbeforetheshadowpeoplepermanentlytakehimawaytotheirworld.