A rock band's recording session is derailed by a series of brutal murders in the studio.

SYNOPSIS:

Recording in Progress

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ACT 1:

Prologue - 1969

A young rock band is signed to Crane Recording Artists, unaware that they're placeholders while the label continues to look for a better group.

NYC - 1977

We meet the rock band Phoenyx, consisting of Mark Harper, Tommy Harris, Danny Preston, and Steven Sherman, in the middle of a photoshoot. We learn from their manager that due to the success of their last album, featuring their No.1 hit "Sweet Fire," there's pressure on the now-household-name band to top their previous work.

They wrap up the photoshoot and head to the studio to record with the infamous producer Roy Royce. Before the band arrives, two killers enter the studio and kill a punk band that was recording there. The killers leave, barely missing Phoenyx, but one of them overhears that the famous band has arrived. Under pressure from Roy, Mark and Danny get into a huge argument about selling out, causing Mark to storm out of the building. As Mark leaves, the punk band's manager arrives and discovers the aftermath of the murders. Police arrive at the studio. We learn that the producers in the building each have a key and there's a spare in a crack in the sidewalk out front. Meanwhile, the two killers argue in their apartment that overlooks the studio. Anxious to kill Phoenyx, one of them re-enters the studio and is killed by two police officers while they search the building. Under the impression that there was only one killer and now he's been eliminated, Roy bribes the police lieutenant into letting the band keep recording at the studio. The lieutenant agrees, but stations an officer at the front and back, locks the doors, and gives the building keys to the officers.

ACT 2:

The surviving killer murders the cop at the back exit, takes the key, and enters the studio. He kills the disco band still recording there, then Roy who ends up in the hallway at the wrong time. The members of Phoenyx are unaware of this, but Danny senses that something is off. The band begins to speculate that they're the victims of a record company conspiracy that wants to see them die at the height of their fame so Mark can have a solo singing career. They try to convince the cop stationed out front to let them leave, but are unsuccessful. He agrees to search the building but gets killed in the process.

ACT 3:

Mark is at a bar having fun with fans -- that is, until he sees a breaking news update on TV that a punk band was killed at the studio. He leaves in a hurry and finds someone to drive him back. Meanwhile, Danny, Tommy, and Steven try to find a way out of the locked studio. They run to Studio B, hoping the producer has a key, and find the disco band dead. They hear a thud at the door and dive into the booth, hiding under the mixing desk. The killer enters, dragging the cop's body. He talks about how he wants the dead musicians to watch his "special performance." He leaves and Danny suggests they take the gun from one of the dead cops and run to the lounge to call the police and go out the window. They get to the lounge and the phone line has been cut and the window is stuck. They run back to Studio A for an amp to push through the window. Meanwhile, Mark's driver crashes, so Mark starts running frantically through the streets of New York City.

The other three band members find an amp and run back into the lounge where the killer is waiting for them. Mark arrives at the studio and can't open the door, but then he remembers -- the spare key! He runs into an empty Studio A, grabs a music stand and guitar as weapons, then runs into the lounge. The killer explains that he and the other killer are brothers who were in the band from the prologue. They were signed to Crane but got drafted. After the Vietnam War ended, they were discarded by the record label and replaced by Phoenyx. Mark arrives just in time and a chaotic final showdown ensues: Tommy and Danny get injured in the process, but Steven and Mark are eventually able to overpower the killer, who meets his dramatic end when Mark beats him to death with a guitar. The police arrive and the four band members resolve their argument from earlier that night.

RECORDING IN PROGRESS