On Eli's 11th birthday, after being abandoned by his parents once again, he is having the worst birthday a boy could have. That is, until his granddad arrives with a special gift to save the day.
With his new fishing rod in hand, Eli sets off for an adventure on Lake Milford with his granddad. Initially a little nervous about being out on the water for the first time, Eli is carried away with excitement when he finally feels a tug on his line.
Eli's catch turns out to be more than he bargained for, when unimaginable horrors are unleashed upon the tight-knit community of Milford's End. What follows is a coming-of-age survival story about family, fear… and fishing.