Potem ko v družinski tragediji ostane brez svojcev, profesorica teologije Katherine Winter izgubi vero v boga. S preiskovanjem domnevnih verskih čudežev začne tudi javno izražati dvome o obstoju boga. Nekega dne jo prosijo, da razišče nenavadne in srhljive dogodke v mestecu Haven v Louisiani. Umrl je otrok in reka se je spremenila v kri, kar je šele začetek. Je možno, da so prebivalci kaznovani za svoje grehe? Meščani so prepričani, da je za vse skupaj kriva skrivnostna deklica.
The death of a child in mysterious circumstances sparks a series of events that seem to represent biblical plagues, which start occurring in, of all places, a town called "Haven" that is located deep in the bowels of Bible belt country in the bayous of Louisiana. A former Christian missionary turned religious phenomena debunker and her top open minded student turned personal assistant are sent to investigate.