As a child, Luther Watts was deeply affected by seeing a circus geek (someone who bites the heads off live chickens in a circus sideshow). Finally paroled after serving 20 years in prison, he terrorizes the residents of his hometown by making chicken noises, crowing like a rooster and attacking people. He winds up at a farm run by a woman and her daughter, where he takes them captive and then starts killing off her neighbors. The mother realizes she and her daughter must escape before he kills them, too.
Leo is a successful author of mystery novels, who writes under a pseudonym. While penning his next book in an isolated chalet, he receives a strange visit from Jota, a somewhat troubling character, who claims to be a journalist.