Bound by Blackmail

Logline

When empty-nester, Nicole, joins a self-help group, she discovers all is not as it seems, and someone gets more and more determined to stop her from finding the truth.

Synopsis

Nicole is finally an empty nester; her daughter Ari is off to college, and she’s not quite sure what to do with herself. She sees an ad for a self-help group called Initiative, meant mostly for single women to take control of their lives. She decides to attend a session, even though skeptical of the idea. Initiative’s vice chair Diana introduces Nicole and the new applicants to their founding principles: more productivity, affirmation, and communal experiences. Nicole quickly finds herself adapting to the Initiative lifestyle and is introduced to its charismatic leader Ken, who encourages her to be the best version of herself. Nicole also bonds with Phyllis, an older member who is a bit of an outcast. But when Nicole starts inviting Phyllis over to her house, Phyllis abruptly disappears and is found dead. Ari shares her concerns: her own research has turned up rumors that Initiative is a cult that preys on vulnerable women, who quickly give money, attention, love, and power to Ken. And, Phyllis was Ken’s ex-wife! Nicole immediately leaves the Initiative, telling Diana that she’s thinking of going to the police over Phyllis’s death. Immediately after leaving, however, she finds herself the target of attacks. Ari is run off the road coming home from school, Nicole is attacked online, and someone breaks into their home. Nicole, at her wit’s end, confronts Ken, telling him she’s going to the police, but Ken denies involvement. The truth comes out when Nicole, on her way to the police station, is taken captive by Diana! It turns out, Diana kills Phyllis because she was making plans to talk to a reporter about the Initiative. This group is all Diana has, and she’ll do anything to protect it, including killing Nicole and Ari.