World renowned investigator of paranormal hoaxes Dr. Margaret Matheson and her young assistant, Tom Buckley (Cillian Murphy), study the most varied metaphysical phenomena with the aim of proving their fraudulent origin. When legendary blind psychic Simon Silver reappears after an enigmatic 30 year absence, his once-fearless adversary Matheson warns Buckley to back off. But Tom's intense obsession with disproving Silver's powers soon threatens his scientific worldview to its core and puts his very life in danger.