美國聯邦調查員麥特班森帶著妻子寶拉與五歲的女兒蒂娜，被派駐到義大利西西里島的吉諾斯特拉火山（Ginostra），去保護一樁謀殺案的關鍵證人──一名11歲男孩艾托瑞。 艾托瑞的家人在汽車裡被炸死了，他是唯一的生還者。麥特假意收養艾托瑞，希望能從艾托瑞口中問出內幕、指認兇手，卻悄悄洩露出隱藏在麥特與艾托瑞背後的悲劇，一個連妻子寶拉都毫不知情的祕密。 祕密與謊言，像即將爆發的Ginostra般，麥特一家人正一步步通往地嶽之門。外在的危機，內在的恐懼，被遺棄的孤兒陷入兩難的泥淖……
Matt Benson, an FBI investigator, has been posted to the island of Panarea in the Lipari archipelago within the framework of an agreement between the USA and Italy. He has been allocated a comfortable, well-protected house with vast grounds and a private cove facing the Ginostra volcano. This delights his wife Jessie and their 5-year-old daughter Tina. A few days after they arrive, a 11-year-old boy, Ettore Greco, a Mafia victim, is questioned by Matt about the death of his whole family in a car bombing. For security reasons, Matt decides to bring Ettore to the house where he is living. This artificial adoption gradually reveals the tragic secret binding Matt to the child, a secret Jessie knows nothing about. From secrets to lies, the atmosphere in the villa slowly leads the Benson family to the gates of hell. Outside is the danger, inside is the fear. In between is an orphan child...