It’s 1947, and the picture’s in trouble. Len Valmont’s a genius — Monument Pictures’ dark prince of shadows and suggestion. But the schlocky monster mash forced upon him by the studio bigwigs now runs behind schedule and over budget — and the executives have their knives out.

Rookie director Art wants to do right by the mentor who’s risking his career to give Art his big break. Screenwriter Eileen’s juggling rewrites of this picture and research for the next one. Part-time actress and full-time cleaning lady Vidalia just wants something more than another maid or housekeeper role. 

But when the eerie shadows of Len’s new picture slither off the screen and onto the studio lot, this unlikely trio of heroes find themselves in the midst of a harrowing mystery, struggling to save the picture — and themselves.

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The spooky, elegant classic horror films of producer Val Lewton inspired this story. “They Creep by Night” was a real project that his studio, RKO, pushed him to make — a “monster rally” like the sort Universal was churning out, teaming up the villains of his previous films. In real life, Lewton said no. But what if...