A voodoo curse haunts a family in the low country of North Carolina. Ben Porter, a psychologically wounded veteran and reluctant hero, returns from the war to find he has a young daughter. Rachel was born to Olive Mills, from whom Ben is estranged. As teenagers, Ben and Olive discovered the mutilated body of Yolinda, a young black girl. Ben's deformed cousin, Luther, was convicted of the murder. As he was led from the courtroom, Luther threatened to escape from prison and kill Ben and Olive for their involvement in uncovering the crime. True to his word, years later he escapes, kidnaps their daughter and challenges Ben and Olive to rescue her from his deep forest hideout without involving the FBI or police or Rachel will die. When Ben refuses the challenge, he is branded a coward by all, but the intervention of a Merlin-like old Voodoo priestess drives the story to its dramatic conclusion.