What Is Round the Decay About?
The premise of Round the Decay in 294 words, with nothing given away. The full story follows below.
In the remote stretch of Newport’s Valley, New Hampshire, an off‑season gathering of tourists and locals feels ordinary on the surface, yet an ancient, unseen menace lingers just beyond the tree line. The town’s history is shadowed by a centuries‑old ritual that bound the land to a dark covenant, leaving a lingering sense that something still prowls the woods, feeding on grief and secrets. The mood is one of quiet dread, where the rustle of leaves and the creak of old timber seem to whisper of a reality that refuses to be ignored.
When Kenzie Rhodes returns to the valley after the mysterious disappearance of her fiancé, she checks into the newly reopened Barn Owl Inn, run by Bart Blakewell, an optimistic outsider hoping to revive the fading tourist trade. The inn becomes a quiet hub where the town’s uneasy denial meets the curiosity of a newcomer. Roz Jackson, an old school friend now tending the local pub, offers a wary welcome, hinting at old wounds that the community prefers to keep buried. Their interactions reveal a web of relationships strained by years of unspoken fear, setting up a dynamic where loyalty, guilt, and the desire for answers clash.
Adding to the tension is Munroe, a solitary figure with deep knowledge of regional folklore who arrives just as strange occurrences begin to surface. His presence suggests that the valley’s hidden threat may be more than a story, hinting at a world where the line between monster and victim blurs and only those who understand the old myths might stand a chance. As the day unfolds, the characters find themselves drawn into an unsettling atmosphere that teeters between the ordinary and the supernatural, inviting the audience to wonder what lurks beneath the valley’s tranquil façade.
What Happens in Round the Decay?
The complete story of Round the Decay, from the first scene to the last, in 795 words (about 3 minutes). Spoilers throughout. Names in the text link to 2 cast member pages.
Spoilers ahead
In a haunting flashback from the late 1600s, Whelan Newport, Roger Clark, leads a desperate band of colonial settlers into Newport’s Valley, an unforgiving landscape that resists every effort to conquer it. Facing resistance from local Indigenous people, the settlers turn to a dark ritual. Whelan, driven by power and fear, sacrifices his own wife to an ancient spirit known as the Wrexsoul, an entity that promises dominion over the land in exchange for blood. The Wrexsoul manifests as a grotesque humanoid with hollow, dripping eyes and a chilling ability to mimic the living. In a swift, horrifying sequence, the spirit exterminates the native population and curses the valley with guilt, secrecy, and blood that will echo through generations.
Jump to the present day. Kenzie Rhodes, Victoria Mirrer, returns to Newport’s Valley after years away, grieving her fiancé Ben who disappeared during a hike through the region’s ancient forest. She checks into the Barn Owl Inn, a decaying lodge now run by Bart Blakewell, [Cary Hite], who is trying to revive the town’s dwindling tourism. Kenzie’s arrival unsettles the locals, who sense the town is trapped in time — few new businesses, few young people, and a collective reluctance to face what truly lies beneath. Roz Jackson, [Sienna Hubert-Ross], a longtime friend who now bartends at the only remaining pub, warns Kenzie to steer clear of the woods, hinting that Ben’s fate might be tied to darker forces.
A foursome of hikers—Aida Kazarian, [Alexis Safoyan], her boyfriend Trevor Darrisaw, [Sassan Saffari], and two college friends—arrives at the inn and decides to explore a cave system known as Widow’s Gap, long closed to visitors. Deep inside, they uncover crude colonial symbols etched in the rock and a mummified corpse hanging upside down with its mouth sewn shut. The discovery awakens the Wrexsoul, and that night Trevor is found torn apart in his tent while Aida flees back into town, bloodied and terrified.
Sheriff Denton is quick to write Trevor’s death off as a bear attack, but Munroe, a mysterious visitor and seasoned hunter of regional folklore, knows better. [Damian Maffei] brings a calm intensity to the role, sharing a past connection to similar killings in nearby towns and hinting that Newport’s elite have long hidden a painful pattern. He meets with Kenzie in secret, explaining that her fiancé’s disappearance is part of a repeating cycle tied to the valley’s curse and to a lineage of secrecy among those descended from Whelan Newport. Kenzie’s dreams grow more vivid, with the Wrexsoul mimicking Ben’s voice and walking with a limp, calling her name in distorted tones. She begins to question whether her memories are genuine or planted.
Meanwhile, Bart uncovers strange writings under the Inn’s floorboards—bloody inscriptions naming the valley’s original sacrificial victims and binding terms that echo the town’s sinister history. An old resident, Agnes Lawley, hints that the valley is “sick with the blood of betrayal,” revealing a layered history of sacrifice every few decades as the Wrexsoul returns to feed on grief and guilt. Some locals still secretly uphold an ancient covenant, feeding the horror rather than ending it.
Kenzie, Aida, Bart, and Munroe form an uneasy alliance and search the ruins of the Newport family homestead for clues. Munroe explains that the Wrexsoul cannot be killed in a conventional sense; it is a binding of spirit and flesh, and only another “willing soul” can trap it in a new tomb. The entity functions like a psychic sponge, feeding on unprocessed trauma and reproducing the pain of its victims. The group retreats to the cave, hoping to lure the Wrexsoul with a ritual drawn from Whelan’s journal. Bart sacrifices himself to buy the others time, and a brutal battle unfolds within the cave’s pulsating darkness. Munroe is gravely wounded, and Aida is briefly possessed by the Wrexsoul, speaking in Ben’s voice. Kenzie nearly breaks, but she finds a resolve within—driven by love and duty.
In a climactic act, Kenzie offers herself to the Wrexsoul, reciting the original covenant in reverse and placing her own name where Whelan’s wife’s had stood. The creature’s form shudders and begins to disintegrate in a whirl of shrieks and ash, as a cave-in seals it beneath rubble at dawn. Roz and Kenzie watch as smoke rises from the valley; the sheriff is gone, Munroe lies dead, Aida leaves town quietly, and the Inn remains boarded up. Yet the land feels markedly quieter, as if a terrible burden has been lifted—at least for now.
Weeks later, in the valley’s ruins of an old barn, a group of children plays and hears faint whispers calling one of their names, a chilling reminder that the Wrexsoul’s shadow may still linger, waiting for the next moment of grief to stir it back to life.
Round the Decay Timeline: Every Key Event in Order
14 key events in the order they happen, from “Wrexsoul birth and the valley's curse” to “Final whispers from the barn ruins”. 14 events name a place, across 9 locations.
- 1
Wrexsoul birth and the valley's curse
In the late 1600s, Whelan Newport leads colonial settlers into Newport's Valley and performs a brutal ritual. He sacrifices his wife to the ancient spirit known as the Wrexsoul, seeking dominion over the land. The spirit lashes out, exterminating the native inhabitants and cursing the valley with guilt and secrecy.
When:late 1600s Where:Newport's Valley, New Hampshire
- 2
Kenzie returns to Newport's Valley
Two years after her fiancé Ben vanishes during a hiking trip, Kenzie Rhodes returns to the remote town. She checks into the Barn Owl Inn and confronts a community that has learned to deny or forget what happened. The town feels trapped in time, haunted by an old wound that won't heal.
When:present day Where:Newport's Valley
- 3
Barn Owl Inn reopens under Bart
Bart Blakewell arrives to revive the decaying Barn Owl Inn, bringing hope to the dwindling tourist economy. His optimism clashes with the wary locals who cling to old stories and silence. Kenzie's return stirs tension and unsettles the town's fragile balance.
When:present Where:Barn Owl Inn, Newport's Valley
- 4
Roz warns about the woods
Roz Jackson, a longtime acquaintance who now tends bar, urges Kenzie to stay away from the woods. She hints that Ben's disappearance wasn't natural and that something darker sleeps in the forest. The warning plants seeds of doubt about the town's carefully maintained history.
When:present Where:Pub, Newport's Valley
- 5
The hikers arrive at Widow's Gap
Aida Kazarian, her boyfriend Trevor, and two college friends arrive at the inn and decide to explore Widow's Gap cave system. They discuss local legends and the cave's long closure. The expedition foreshadows the terror that will unfold.
When:present Where:Widow's Gap cave, Newport's Valley
- 6
The Wrexsoul awakens
Deep inside the cave, the group discovers crude colonial symbols and a mummified corpse hanging upside down with its mouth sewn shut. The Wrexsoul awakens, signaling that the town's dark history has returned. Trevor is found torn apart in his tent, triggering the first wave of the hunt.
When:present Where:Widow's Gap cave
- 7
Munroe reveals the pattern
Sheriff Denton insists Trevor's death was a bear attack, but Munroe arrives with unsettling knowledge about the region's lore. He explains that Ben's disappearance fits a decades-old pattern tied to the town's elite descended from Whelan Newport. The group learns that a grim covenant upholds the Wrexsoul's presence.
When:present Where:Newport's Valley
- 8
Dreams and discoveries
Kenzie experiences vivid dreams in which the Wrexsoul mimics Ben's voice, blurring memory and reality. Bart uncovers blood-written names of the original victims under the inn's floorboards. The discoveries deepen the sense that guilt and sacrifice haunt every corner of the town.
When:present Where:Barn Owl Inn
- 9
Revelations about the valley's history
Agnes Lawley shares that the valley is 'sick with the blood of betrayal' and that sacrifices occur in cycles. She explains a layered history of murder and ritual that fuel the Wrexsoul's return. Some townsfolk secretly aid the creature through an old covenant.
When:present Where:Newport's Valley
- 10
The alliance forms to seal the cave
Kenzie joins forces with Aida, Bart, and Munroe to study the Newport family homestead ruins for clues. They conclude the Wrexsoul cannot be killed conventionally and must be trapped by a willing soul in a new tomb. They plan a ritual using Whelan's journal to lure the creature.
When:present Where:Newport family homestead ruins
Show the other 4 events of Round the Decay Hide the last 4 events
- 11
Battle in the cave
The group returns to Widow's Gap and enact the planned ritual, drawing the Wrexsoul into a final confrontation. Bart sacrifices himself to buy time as explosives seal the cave entrance. Munroe is gravely wounded, and Aida is briefly possessed by the Wrexsoul, speaking in Ben's voice.
When:climax Where:Widow's Gap cave
- 12
Kenzie's ultimate sacrifice
Kenzie offers herself to the Wrexsoul, reversing the original covenant and using her own name in place of Whelan’s wife. The creature falters and disintegrates in a storm of shrieks as the cave collapses. Dawn breaks on a valley that feels both lighter and haunted by what remains.
When:dawn Where:Widow's Gap cave
- 13
Aftermath settles, the valley quiets
The town bears the consequences: the sheriff is missing, Munroe is dead, Aida has left town, and the Inn is boarded up. The land feels quieter but scarred, the cycle of sacrifice hinted to continue beneath the surface. The survivors begin to rebuild with caution and reluctance.
When:weeks later Where:Newport's Valley
- 14
Final whispers from the barn ruins
Weeks after the climactic confrontation, a group of children exploring the ruins of an old barn hear faint whispers calling one of their names. The voice sounds eerily familiar, suggesting that the Wrexsoul's influence lingers. The film closes on the uneasy sense that fear and guilt still haunt the valley.
When:weeks later Where:Ruins of the old barn, Newport's Valley
Who Are the Main Characters in Round the Decay?
7 characters, among them Kenzie Rhodes (Victoria Mirrer), Roz Jackson (Sienna Hubert-Ross) and Munroe (Damian Maffei): who each one is and the part they play in the story. Every profile links to the actor’s page.
- KR
Kenzie Rhodes (Victoria Mirrer)
Played by Victoria Mirrer
Kenzie returns to Newport’s Valley after her fiancé Ben vanished, carrying guilt and a resolve to uncover the truth behind the town’s haunted history. Her memories and visions push others to confront the Wrexsoul’s legacy and the covenants that bind the land.
- 💔 Grieving
- 🔎 Investigator
- RJ
Roz Jackson (Sienna Hubert-Ross)
Played by Sienna Hubert-Ross
Roz is Kenzie’s old school friend and the town bartender who senses danger and tries to warn Kenzie away from the woods. She embodies loyalty and pragmatic caution, balancing memory with the town’s uneasy present. Her perspective grounds the group as they face the Wrexsoul.
- 🍺 Bar culture
- 🫂 Loyal Friend
- M(
Munroe (Damian Maffei)
Played by Damian Maffei
Munroe is a seasoned hunter of regional folklore who explains the Wrexsoul’s nature and the town’s secret history. His knowledge guides the group, and his sacrifice in the final confrontation marks the end of the immediate threat.
- 🗺️ Lorekeeper
- 🧭 Guide
- ⚔️ Hunter
- BB
Bart Blakewell (Cary Hite)
Played by Cary Hite
Bart runs the Barn Owl Inn and becomes a critical link in uncovering the town’s writings about its victims. He sacrifices himself to buy time and help seal the cave, preventing the Wrexsoul’s advance.
- 🤝 Sacrifice
- 🧭 Outsider
- AK
Aida Kazarian (Alexis Safoyan)
Played by Alexis Safoyan
Aida is one of the hikers who uncovers the cave’s disturbing symbols and is briefly possessed by the Wrexsoul, becoming a focal point of the climactic struggle.
- 🔮 Haunted
- 🌀 Possession
- TD
Trevor Darrisaw (Sassan Saffari)
Played by Sassan Saffari
Trevor is one of the hikers who meets a horrific end, a stark reminder of the Wrexsoul’s reach and the danger lurking in Widow’s Gap.
- 💀 Death
- MN
Mary Newport (McKenna Parsons)
Played by McKenna Parsons
Mary is part of the Newport family, signifying the town’s old elite whose lineage hints at a long-standing influence behind the valley’s dark traditions.
- 👑 Elite
- 🗝️ Legacy
Where and When Is Round the Decay Set?
Round the Decay is set in Newport’s Valley and New Hampshire (Late 17th century to present day). Here is why the time and place matter to the story.
When
Late 17th century to present day
The film shifts between a late 17th-century colonial settlement and a contemporary thriller. In the past, settlers perform a dark rite that unleashes the Wrexsoul, binding it to the land. In the present, the town struggles with inherited trauma, hidden covenants, and a cycle of disappearances.
Where
Newport’s Valley, New Hampshire
Newport’s Valley is a remote, forested enclave in New Hampshire where the past lingers in the present. The Barn Owl Inn anchors the town's decaying tourist economy, while Widow’s Gap, a cave system steeped in legend, draws both curiosity and fear. The valley bears a curse born from a brutal ritual, with secrecy and guilt coloring generations of its inhabitants.
- 🏞️ Rural
- 🏚️ Haunted
- 🗺️ Historic
What Are the Themes of Round the Decay?
3 ideas the story keeps returning to, among them Trauma, Legacy and Supernatural.
-
01
Trauma
Trauma is both personal and collective, a psychic wound the Wrexsoul feeds on. The town hides painful histories while new violence emerges from unprocessed grief. Kenzie’s memories and dreams braid the past with the present, drawing the group toward the valley’s danger. The creature thrives where guilt and silence meet.
-
02
Legacy
Ancient covenants bind land and people, a tradition the town preserves through secrecy. The Wrexsoul targets the bloodline of Whelan Newport, and the town’s elite help sustain the ritual to keep power intact. The protagonists must confront and attempt to reverse the covenant that has haunted Newport’s Valley for generations.
-
03
Supernatural
The Wrexsoul is a binding of spirit and flesh that feeds on trauma, re-creating pain in its victims. It cannot be slain by ordinary means and requires a willing soul to trap it anew. The cave and the ritual room become a battleground where courage, sacrifice, and old magic threaten the entity’s form.
What Kind of Film Is Round the Decay?
Dark in tone, with steady pacing and a moderate story, going by the plot summary.
- Tone
- Dark
- Pacing
- Steady
- Story
- Moderate
- Intensity
- High
- Ending
- Ambiguous
A steadily paced, atmospheric horror film that creates a heavy sense of dread as characters confront a malevolent entity feeding on generational trauma and grief, culminating in an ambiguous and unsettling resolution.
- dreadful
- atmospheric
- suspenseful
- grieving
- oppressive
- melancholic
- ancient curse
- generational guilt
- grief and loss
- supernatural horror
Content notes: graphic violence, bloody rituals, mummified corpse, psychological torment, self-sacrifice.
Quiz
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