James Ballard, a film producer, survives a serious car accident that leaves him physically and emotionally scarred. In the aftermath, he and his wife Catherine explore new dimensions of their relationship, marked by a shared dissatisfaction and yearning for stimulation. James meets Dr. Helen Remington, whose husband died in the collision that involved James. Their mutual trauma evolves into a strange alliance as they both seek solace in the dangerous thrill of car crashes. This leads James deeper into an underground subculture obsessed with vehicular accidents and the adrenaline-fueled sexual arousal that comes from them.

As James delves into this world, he encounters Vaughan, the cult-like ringleader who orchestrates re-enactments of famous car crashes. Vaughan introduces James to increasingly perilous scenarios, pushing the boundaries of their physical and emotional limits. James's obsessions begin to eclipse his reality, further isolating him from the world he once knew. At each turn, he faces moral and ethical dilemmas that force him to confront the darkest corners of his desires and fears. The journey reveals unsettling truths about human nature and the potent combination of sex, death, and technology.