The theater-kid cliché “If I don’t make it by the time I’m 30, I’ll die” takes a dark, literal turn in this dazzling horror debut.

On September 30th, Chloe St. Claire sets herself on fire. One month later, Zachary Downing throws himself off a building. Both were aspiring actors and drama school classmates, and both died on their 30th birthdays.

Struggling playwright Dante Pérez was the last person to see Zach alive. Haunted by an exchange they had that day, in which Zach hinted that somebody might be stalking him, Dante decides to investigate Zach’s death and discovers a disturbing trail of breadcrumbs that point toward a sinister—and potentially supernatural—figure, the Muse, which seems to decide which of its victims live or die based on their professional success (or lack thereof).

As the clock ticks closer to their 30th birthdays and the Muse claims more victims, the dwindling ensemble of surviving friends—hubris-stricken Dante, downtrodden ex-director Abby, out-of-work actor Jesse, and actual Hollywood starlet Sierra—must attempt to achieve fame and fortune . . . or die trying.