1955, New York City. A private detective, Harry Angel, is approached by Louis Cyphre with a request to track down Johnny Favourite, a talented musician. In 1943, Mr. Cyphre made a contract with Johnny, but Favourite, returning from the war, was in a mental hospital, from which he later disappeared. Harry begins to investigate, but the further he progresses in his search, the more mysteries he encounters along the way. And there is no way back: everyone from whom the detective tried to find out any information about missing Johnny dies after talking with Angel.