Michael Darwin had sworn he’d sell his soul to the devil for the money to make his film, “Hollywood Is Murder,” a lurid tale of a serial killer loose in Lotus Land. Imagine his surprise when an angel shows up-a financial backer named Charles S. Burns, who was willing to finance the project-if Darwin signed over a huge insurance policy to him; just in case.

But soon Darwin suspects there is a dark side to his angel. Burns is too knowledgeable about how a killer stalks his victim, too sure he’d get back every penny he’d invested. And before the movie was in the can, Darwin realizes he had mortgaged his wife and children to fulfill a dream.