A single mother battles a supernatural sleep entity in an isolated mountain village to save her daughter from fatal hypnagogic paralysis.
Story Structure — 4 Plot Phases
The Sinister Arrival
Marta and Nina relocate to Malanotte seeking relief from Nina's sleep disorder, only to encounter an unwelcoming house and a deserted village.
Key Events
Arrival in Malanotte — Marta and Nina arrive in the mountain village seeking fresh air. Characters: Marta, NinaLocation: Malanotte Village
Unwelcoming House — The family discovers the house is unwelcoming and isolated. Characters: Marta, NinaLocation: New House
Mountain Air Therapy — Marta hopes the mountain air will cure Nina's sleep disorder. Characters: MartaLocation: New House
Empty Streets — Marta notices children are never seen playing in the streets. Characters: MartaLocation: Village Streets
First Night Tension — The first night brings immediate unease and anticipation of symptoms. Characters: Marta, NinaLocation: New House
First Nightmares — Nina experiences vivid nightmares starting from the first night. Characters: Nina, MartaLocation: Nina's Bedroom
Shadows in the Sleep
Nina's hypnagogic paralysis worsens, triggering vivid hallucinations and medical consultations that reveal the supernatural nature of her condition.
Key Events
First Nightmares — Nina experiences vivid nightmares starting from the first night. Characters: Nina, MartaLocation: Nina's Bedroom
Medical Consultation — Marta seeks professional help for Nina's worsening condition. Characters: Marta, DottoreLocation: Doctor's Office
Hypnagogic Paralysis — Dottore identifies the sleep disorder and its hallucinatory risks. Characters: Dottore, NinaLocation: Doctor's Office
Sinister Village — Marta perceives the village as increasingly sinister and unwelcoming. Characters: Marta, Andrea, Orsa, FrancoLocation: Village Streets
The Village's Secret
Marta navigates a hostile community while Nina's nightmares escalate, culminating in a ghostly entity that physically torments her during sleep.
Key Events
Symptom Escalation — Nina's paralysis and nightmares intensify daily. Characters: Nina, MartaLocation: New House
Vivid Hallucinations — Nina enters deep hallucinatory states during sleep episodes. Characters: NinaLocation: Nina's Bedroom
Ghostly Figure — A ghostly figure sits on Nina's chest, immobilizing her. Characters: NinaLocation: Nina's Bedroom
Maternal Struggle — Marta struggles to determine the best course of action for her child. Characters: MartaLocation: New House
Breathless Confrontation
Facing extreme isolation and escalating terror, Marta and local allies race against time to confront the entity and protect Nina from fatal paralysis.
Key Events
Maternal Struggle — Marta struggles to determine the best course of action for her child. Characters: MartaLocation: New House
Local Investigation — Marta and local allies investigate the village's dark secrets. Characters: Marta, Cowboy, AndreaLocation: Village Streets
Deepening Isolation — The family becomes increasingly isolated from the outside world. Characters: Marta, NinaLocation: New House
Entity Confrontation — Marta and allies attempt to confront the supernatural threat. Characters: Marta, Nina, CowboyLocation: Nina's Bedroom
Final Night Terror — The paralysis reaches its peak during a critical sleep episode. Characters: Nina, MartaLocation: Nina's Bedroom
Desperate Measures — Marta takes extreme actions to save Nina from the entity. Characters: Marta, CowboyLocation: New House
Aftermath Reflection — The family reflects on the ordeal and its lingering effects. Characters: Marta, NinaLocation: New House
Story Breakdown
Inciting Incident — Relocation to Malanotte for therapeutic mountain air, immediately met with an unwelcoming house and deserted streets.
House Inspection — Discovery of the property's hostile atmosphere and isolation.
Village Observation — Noticing the complete absence of children playing outdoors.
Rising Action — Nina's sleep disorder deteriorates, triggering vivid hallucinations and prompting medical intervention.
Medical Consultation — Dottore diagnoses hypnagogic paralysis and warns of hallucinatory risks.
Nightmare Escalation — Vivid dreams featuring a ghostly figure that immobilizes Nina and steals her breath.
Community Tension — Marta faces suspicion and unwelcoming attitudes from established villagers.
Climax — The supernatural threat peaks as the entity directly attacks Nina during sleep, forcing desperate intervention.
Maternal Crisis — Marta struggles to determine the most effective protective measures.
Entity Confrontation — Marta and local allies attempt to directly face the breathing-stealing figure.
Desperate Measures — Extreme actions are taken to break the paralysis cycle and save Nina's life.
Resolution — The immediate threat is addressed, leaving the family to process the psychological and physical toll of the ordeal.
Aftermath Reflection — Assessment of Nina's condition and the lingering impact of the village's sinister environment.
Maternal Resolve — Marta's unwavering commitment to her daughter's safety and recovery.
Marta and her daughter Nina move to Malanotte, a small mountain village. The little girl has been suffering from hypnagogic paralysis for some time, a sleep disorder which can lead to hallucinatory states, and Marta thought that a bit of mountain air and distance from the frenetic rhythm of city life might benefit the little girl. However, the house they move into is anything but welcoming, and children are never seen playing in the streets of Malanotte. Nina’s symptoms begin to worsen from the very first night in the new house, and the little girl has more and more vivid nightmares in which a ghostly figure sits on her chest, immobilises her and steals her breath. For Marta, a single mother in a place she finds increasingly sinister, it will become harder every day to know what is best for her child.
