An architect's restoration of an old mansion unearths a shadowy entity that acts on his repressed anger and pain, forcing him to uncover generations of buried trauma before it consumes him and destroys his family.

SYNOPSIS:

CRAIG BARTON, an architect with a sweet-natured demeanor who’s learned to bury negativity, buys a dilapidated mansion to remodel in rural North Carolina. He moves in his reluctant husband ETHAN, a mix race man with a strong, confident personality, and their daughter MORGAN, a free spirited 8 year old, along with their dog DARBY, a Golden Retriever/St. Bernard mix. Their friend SHAY, a constant in their lives, recently sold them the property.

The previous owner was ninety-year-old DANIEL GASKA, an eccentric recluse who decades ago moved his family, and his century’s old mansion, from Hungary only to have his wife and one-year-old daughter mysteriously killed by some animal.

While re-modeling, Craig discovers a hidden room covered in mirrored panels. It contains a wooden box, which holds a piece of a scroll lying in black sand. The incomplete message hints at something that helps to achieve wealth and power and preys on man's darkness. Craig touches the sand, and it dissolves into him. He thinks nothing of it, but he unknowingly unleashes his shadow-self that manifests into a monstrous creature only visible in the light.

Unaware of the darkness that follows him, Craig catches glimpses of an elusive shadow that begins to create paranoia. The presence looms over the entire family, but especially Morgan as more frightening events take place. The normally docile Craig, changes as the shadow takes hold. Homophobic events that he would normally brush off begin to induce unexpected rage. A religious bank president denies Craig a loan and ends up viciously slain by some kind of animal. Ethan observes the changes in Craig and confronts him after a homophobic sign at their house triggers Craig. The argument forces Ethan to leave to cool off.

p>The entity continues to feed on Craig's pain and anger to grow stronger and weaken him. Craig finds the missing pieces of the scroll which explains the legacy. It’s only then that the creature-like shadow reveals itself to Craig.

While out Ethan researches and finds more information on Daniel Gaska’s past and family. He returns to the house to share it, and something attacks his car in the driveway. It only stops when Craig appears. Ethan begs Craig to leave. When he won’t Ethan exits the house with Morgan and Darby.

A terrified Craig searches for answers in the mansion. He finds a taped message from Gaska explaining the truths of the shadow: one being, only fire or death will end the attachment. He warns that the cursed house protects the shadowy bond. Craig then discovers his own startling connection to the Gaska family.

A panicked Craig googles “shadow creatures” and unearths the frightening truth that it desires to consume him if not controlled.

Craig nearly surrenders to the shadow. It triggers him by projecting Craig's childhood memories of abuse, his involvement in harassing a gay student who then committed suicide, and the multitude of homophobic news headlines. Craig summons the strength to confront the shadow and his past trauma vowing not to let it win. Fueled by Craig's emotions, the monstrous shadow becomes three dimensional as it drains Craig light.

Morgan convinces Ethan to go back. Ethan leaves Morgan in the car and enters to find an extremely weakened Craig. The shadow embarks on a murderous hunt of Ethan, who seeks refuge in the dark. When Morgan enters, it turns its attention to her. She escapes into the house and is eventually rescued by Ethan. They then try to save Craig, but the creature captures Morgan. A desperate Ethan tosses burning logs from the fireplace at the creature hurting it. The room burns.

Craig summons his last bit of inner strength in an ultimate fight with the shadow. Shay rushes in and pulls Ethan and Morgan to safety. Craig succumbs to the smoke. Darby bolts in and drags a lifeless Craig out. Craig’s death coupled with the fire dissolves the shadow into black sand.

Paramedics arrive and revive Craig. The secret room burns and the mirrors crack releasing a cacophony of growls freeing something monstrous.

THE SHADOW FALLS