John and Kate Coleman's marriage is strained after the stillbirth of their third child. In an effort to heal, they decide to adopt another child. They visit a local orphanage and are drawn to Esther, a nine-year-old Russian girl with a precocious talent for painting. Despite the orphanage director's vague explanations about Esther’s past, the Colemans are impressed by her intelligence and charm. They decide to adopt her, hoping she will fill the void left by their lost child. Esther is introduced to her new siblings, Max, who is deaf-mute, and Daniel, who is initially hostile. However, things start well as Esther bonds with Max and begins to acclimate to her new family.

Soon, a series of disturbing events unfolds. Esther exhibits odd behavior and a proclivity for violence, which she cleverly masks from adults while revealing to her siblings. The family's pet is found hurt, and Esther implicates another student at school in harmful activities, causing a rift between John and Kate. As Kate delves into Esther's background, she uncovers alarming discrepancies and becomes increasingly suspicious of the adopted girl. Meanwhile, Esther's manipulative tactics create tension within the family, isolating Kate as she struggles to convince John and others of the unsettling truths she discovers about their new daughter.