It's death by fear (aka fear of death) in this deceptively psychological thriller. The hero, Mike, takes his friends to his grandparents' house for a Halloween party where everyone will dress up as his innermost fear. Mike's fear is that he inherited a murderous legacy from his father. Mike's father was a serial killer who murdered his mother right in front of him when Mike was five years old before committing suicide. Mike's fear manifests in her inability to commit to her girlfriend of 4 1/2 years, Peg of her for fear that he will kill her too. Everything is set in motion when an ancient wooden Indian totem figure named Morty comes to life and begins killing Mike's friends, making his worst fears come true. The final confrontation comes when Mike has to face his greatest fear: his own father.