Rome, 1965. Aspiring actress Silvia Whitford arrives at Rome's Cinecitta Studios ready for her big break. Instead, she learns that the movie in which she was cast has been canceled. Desperate for money, Silvia has only one choice: seek out the Italian aunt she has never met. Gabriella Conti lives in a castello on the edge of a volcanic lake. The castle inspires Silvia's second chance when it becomes the location for a new horror movie and she lands a starring role. But when Gabriella abruptly vanishes, the movie's make-believe terrors seep into reality. As Silvia delves into Gabriella's disappearance, she triggers a chain of events that illuminate a growing menace.