Opportunist and liar, Joseph Watkins, puts on a play at a theatre with a murderous past to impress, Virginia, an actor on the verge of leaving town. While evading two detectives and to the alarm of his stage manager, Joseph becomes obsessed with the spirit of the theatre and begins killing those who get in his way.

An artist, Chance finds the perfect muse, Charlie, for his work. Despite the best efforts of his girlfriend Lily and his mentor Marius, Chance blurs the line between inspiration and obsession and twists his way through Charlie's life. When Chance sees that Charlie has a boyfriend, Michael, he realizes that in order to achieve inspiration sacrifices must be made.