Peter Jason

After a series of disturbing supernatural events in his home, Joel, a young single father, comes to suspect that his young son may be possessed.

It's the Christmas season. Wealthy Chicago ad executive Drew Latham has long avoided the family traditions of Christmas, but has dreaded being alone on the actual day. So when his tropical Christmas vacation with girlfriend Missy Vangilder falls through with Missy breaking up with him in the process, Drew, in going through some self-therapy, decides what he really needs is to relive the memorable Christmases from his childhood, which includes spending time with his parents and younger brother. As that is not possible, he decides to rent a family, namely ones he's never met before, the Valcos - husband and wife Tom and Christine and their teenaged son Brian - who now live in Drew's childhood home in suburban Chicago. Tom initially wants nothing to do with Drew until an exorbitant sum of money is involved, all written in a contract which expires at the end of Christmas day. What Drew is initially unaware of, or what he chooses to remain ignorant about, is that the Valcos are going through their own family problems, which are only exacerbated by Drew's presence. For the Valcos, the questions become whether they can endure Drew's stay until the end of Christmas day, and if they can if the money will solve their family problems. In the process, Drew may come to an admission to himself of what he wants in life and perhaps how best to achieve it. The achieving it may be difficult if he doesn't fully know that life, and as external forces come into play to complicate matters.

When a bomb, delivered to a law firm's skyscraper office, kills 15 night crew and senior partner Anne Harrington, irreverent postal inspector Beau Stoddard competently traces it. Officially he's just FBI liaison. Nominee director of Domestic Security Robert Brickland, Beau's hated ex-boss at bomb squad and FBI, grudgingly lets him collaborate with ex-partner Jane Dreyer. Soon after U.S. Attorney Fred Goldenberg is also bombed. Anonymous letters suggests the link is drug hood James Grimes, but he maintains his innocence while dying in a bloody arrest. Beau pushes on, fearing a dirtier plot.