Three hapless activists on the run hide out at a woodland research project investigating how fungal networks can help humanity survive the environmental apocalypse, but they soon discover this camp has a more nefarious purpose.

SYNOPSIS:

In a darkened forest a young man flees his pursuers. He climbs a tree to escape but is mummified by mycelium. Mushroom spores explode over those following him.

At a demonstration three activists (Torquil, Fiona and Lizzie) discover the laws have changed to crack down on protesting. When someone vandalises a statue the media implies they are responsible and the trio flee for the country house of Torquil’s father, Peregrine. The patriarch enables them to volunteer at a nearby research camp whose wealthy benefactor he knows.

After an unnerving night in his mansion the trio flee the arriving police, driven by Peregrine’s manservant to the woods where they soon get lost and spooked. They are eventually found by camp volunteer Nancy who shows them around the research station, their accommodation and the hi-tech operations tent where strains of fungi from the ‘Wood Wide Web’ are analysed. They meet Anne who runs the scientific operation, IT hippy Jeff and excitable young woman Sam who hero worships Torquil for his activist history.

Later Torquil awakes from a nightmare where Sam is under threat from shadowy figures. The next morning a sceptical Fiona and wide-eyed Lizzie watch a demonstration of ‘communing with the forest’ by Sandra, a spirit medium / mycorrhizal guru / possible charlatan. Meanwhile Sam shows Torquil around the Technical Operations tent, explaining how scientists there are looking to harness the power of fungal networks to save the environment.

An alarm sounds to indicate the camp’s perimeter has been breached. This unexpected arrival is the man behind the project, Beverly. He has a positive funding announcement and supplies for a celebration. Beverly speaks with Torquil who is sceptical of his intentions before Sam defends their collective work; detailing recent breakthroughs. However she is unsettled and clearly hiding something and asks Torquil to spend the evening with her rather than at the revelry.

Fiona and Torquil discuss their misgivings while Lizzie prepares for the party. Before the main course Lizzie and an unsuspecting Fiona are fed ‘appetisers’ containing magic mushrooms. Guided by Nancy, with whom she is increasingly smitten; Lizzie has a pleasant trip while Fiona’s night descends into terror.

Torquil persuades Sam to reveal more about the cult-like culture underpinning the volunteer group and her missing ex-boyfriend before they make love. At the party Fiona hallucinates horrible scenes of debauchery with a fungus infecting the revellers; bursting out through their skin. Hearing her scream, Torquil rushes to talk Fiona down, agreeing they need to find out what is behind their visions.

The next day Torquil outlines his plan: after turning on Fiona’s phone he will call his father while Lizzie and Fiona investigate the Technical Operations tent. The pair manage to infiltrate this guarded area while, out in the woods, Torquil stumbles upon the mummified corpse of Sam’s ex-boyfriend who was killed in the opening scene.

In the tent’s adjoining laboratory Lizzie and Fiona find a laptop presentation that reveals the camp is a front for experimental military research - the project will utilise the fungal strain that body-snatches carpenter ants to control soldiers against their will and this technology will be sold to the highest bidder. The pair are caught by Anne as a horrified Torquil digs up the body in the woods. Sam arrives there upset, revealing that this human subject who must have been experimented on is her ex, Jake. Torquil wants them to flee but Sam convinces him otherwise.

Torquil speak with Peregrine who is mortified by the revelations and promises to help. Meanwhile Fiona, Nancy and Lizzie are tied up and readied for connection to the fungal networks. Torquil and Sam meet with Peregrine’s manservant, collect a shotgun and give him instructions while, back in camp, Anne announces to the volunteer group that these three captives will be used for the next experiment.

Hyphae extend to connect them to the network and, losing physical control to the mycelium, the women jerk like marionettes. An armed Torquil interrupts the disturbing scene and orders them to be freed. Anne manages to wrestle the shotgun from Sam and Torquil convinces her to wire him up to the network for their experiment instead.

With long experience of living amid the Wood Wide Web, Torquil shocks the conspirators by taking control of the fungal strain to release spores which render the operations group and guards unconscious. Their victory is short-lived as police arrive to arrest the three fugitives while paramedics tend the unconscious, mushroom-fused guards and scientists.

In a coda, Torquil gives testimony at a hearing to determine whether Beverly will face charges. Still the trio of activists await their own trial and, in adjoining cells, Lizzie talks of Nancy and Sam who are waiting on the outside for her and Torquil, while Fiona is subject to the attentions of Jeff. In his cell Torquil tends a clump of mushrooms, controlling the hyphae sprouting from them with his newly discovered abilities and perhaps paving the way for a sequel...