In 1881 London, a struggling opera singer named Christine Day stumbles upon a piece of music by a mysterious composer named Erik Destler. Intrigued, she performs the piece in an audition and, despite her skepticism about the legend of Erik selling his soul for musical genius, she gets a coveted role at the opera house. Unbeknownst to Christine, Erik, hideously disfigured and living beneath the opera house, becomes obsessed with her and vows to make her a star.

As Christine rises to fame, Erik’s dark presence becomes more menacing. He eliminates those who stand in the way of her success and orchestrates both her career and her personal life from the shadows. The tension escalates as strange and violent incidents plague the opera house, leading to a final confrontation that reveals the full extent of Erik's control and the harrowing fate awaiting anyone who tries to thwart his plans.