The MGM Crime Reporter introduces James Hollister, the Police Chief of a metropolitan city. He mentions that what may seem like the smallest of crimes or no crime at all may have the biggest negative impact of society, the illegal distribution of slot machines being one such example. Changing the names to protect the innocent, he tells the story of mob boss Rocky Fallon who earned much income for his illegal activities from earnings from slot machines, where the insertion of a nickel here and a nickel there added up to several thousand dollars profit per day. It was such an important component of his business that he inserted a mole into the mayor's office, the mayor who vowed as part of his election to get tough on crime. People who were not even remotely associated with the slot machines, such as dry cleaning business owner Frank Watson, whose life was irrevocable changed for the worse by Rocky, who again could not have done what he did without that slot machine revenue.

After a young, middle class couple moves into a suburban 'starter' tract house, they become increasingly disturbed by a presence that may or may not be somehow demonic but is certainly most active in the middle of the night. Especially when they sleep. Or try to.