In 1709 Downwicke House was destroyed by a fire that killed Lord Downwicke and every one of his twelve guests. These were all men who were the leading aristocracy, judges and Members of Parliament of their day. The fire was said to have been started by Romany gypsies and a number of these were hanged for this supposed crime. The truth was that Lord Downwicke and his coven had been attempting to perform the abominable Satanic Rite of the Crucified Child with an abducted Romany gypsy boy in an attempt to raise and enslave Satan himself. Three hundred years later Josh Kellen brings his wife and two young children to, what they believe, is the house of their dreams. Instead Satanic forces are awakened and rise up to kill the innocent and hunt for a new victim to finally complete the abomination that is the Rite of the Crucified Child.