Synopsis
A tomb containing a vast treasure of ancient artifacts is discovered by the evil uncle of an impoverished, Mexican boy named Francisco. Unknown to the uncle, by opening the tomb, he has disturbed the spirit of a pre-Columbian king who is a distant ancestor. On an isolated ranch in central Mexico the story unfolds as the spirit of the boy’s long dead ancestor begins pulling strings in the world of the living. The mysterious death of a steer is the catalyst that pushes Francisco to run away from the abusive uncle, who is willing to do anything to keep his secret safe. Meanwhile, the uncle’s neighbor, Carmen, is torn apart by a secret that she has kept since the birth of Francisco. Riding the rollercoaster, thin thread of his newly won, but quickly eroding freedom, Francisco travels to seek help from his cousins in a distant town. Along his journey Francisco has multiple encounters with the resurrected king. Scared, he does not realize that the spirit has become his protectorate keeping him one step ahead of the uncle. Unbeknownst to the boy he has started down a path that will send him on a collision course with his uncle and into the arms of the mother he thought was dead. During the height of the celebration of The Day of the Dead, parades of colorful dancers and stark wooden skeletons serve as the backdrop during a confrontation between the boy, his cousins and his uncle. Francisco’s cousins reluctantly give up the boy to the uncle who takes him on what he thinks is to be the boy’s final journey. The uncle and the boy are secretly followed to the tomb by murderous thugs sent by an antiquities collector to find and secure the source of the treasure. After an altercation with the thugs the uncle and the boy barely escape with their lives thanks to help from the ghost of the king. The uncle again proceeds with his plan to empty the tomb of its wealth and seal the boy’s dead body up inside. As the uncle moves on the boy to complete his plan Francisco’s cousins enter to stop the uncle. The cousins are caught off guard by the uncle and find themselves at gun point and in the same predicament as Francisco. Just seconds before the uncle can carry out his terrible plan Francisco’s estranged mother, Carmen, enters the tomb, shoots the uncle and saves the day. Francisco is finally united with his mother and family, and the tomb and its treasures are saved. The spirit of the king can once again rest in peace.