When a movie production entourage invades Chris Landrum's close-knit South Carolina island community, he is among the first in an excited crowd who gather to watch the filming. Unfortunately, it is not long before tragedy strikes and the film's director drowns while on a fishing expedition. But when one of Chris's friends barely escapes death in an accident on the set one day, Chris becomes convinced the accident is no accident at all.

As fear replaces anticipation on Folly Beach, Chris and his close friend Charles-a self-anointed private detective-embark on an investigation. They get to know members of the movie's entourage and soon suspect one of the actors might be playing more than the role of a killer. Immersed in determining why the movie set is plagued with accidents as well as dealing with their own personal problems, Chris and Charles are just as surprised as everyone else when a fisherman catches the one he wishes had gotten away-the corpse of one of the movie's stars.

Now Chris must face what could be the final minutes of his life when he learns that nothing is what it appears to be in the magical world of the movies.