 Father Lankester Merrin has turned into a non-believer after seeing the horrific atrocities committed on the innocent during WW II . He has moved to Africa to work as an archaeologist where an antiques dealer comes to him with a request . An old Christian Byzantine church has been unearthed in Kenya , surprisingly intact as if it were buried right after its completion . Merrin is asked to find an ancient relic believed to be buried in the church . Once Merrin arrives at the excavation site , however , inexplicable tragedies start striking the innocent people around . Merrin discovers soon that an ancient evil force has been set free due to the excavation and if he wants to stop it , he will have to start believing once again .