a lantern that uses wood made of the souls of children

A tryst between the young warrior Hagiwara Shinzaburo and beautiful Otsuyu is discovered, and the shamed Otsuyu commits suicide with her maid. Their ghosts subsequently appear to Shinzaburo. He obtains a door-protecting charm and a statue of the goddess Kannon from a priest to keep the spirits from his home. A conniving servant removes the protective devices so that Otsuyu can reach her lover and cart him away to the land of the dead.

Legendary singer Claire Emery flies to Japan for a final sold-out concert. But when the show ends, so does Claire’s life on earth. However, an unexpected new life in the spirit world - where she will be guided by Yuzo, one of her biggest fans - awaits.

Inspired by Chuyện Người Con Gái Nam Xương and Đèn Âm Hồn, the story is set in a rural village in Northern Vietnam during the feudal era. Thương, a mother raising her son Lĩnh alone while awaiting her husband's return from war, faces eerie events after Lĩnh accidentally discovers a mysterious lantern. The boy begins calling the shadow cast on the wall his father. According to the village shaman, the lantern is a đèn âm hồn, capable of summoning vengeful spirits. Strange and haunting occurrences unfold, leaving Thương and the villagers to question: is the shadow truly Lĩnh's father or something far more sinister?

A boy walks around his town unable to enjoy its beauty, only to be captivated by a lantern, leading him down a path of self destruction and regret.

A man carrying the remains of his dead wife wanders around, looking for a place to die. He sees a resemblance of his wife, to a woman in a “lantern girl” poster. The man starts working as an apprentice, but the feeling of loss lingers on. On the day of the lantern festival, a woman appears before him, strange phenomena surrounds the man.