The vast majority of the population of Europe and America lives in the suburbs with their special atmosphere of prosperity and universal neighborliness. But this is only an appearance, behind which lies the horror of indifference and loneliness. The family of psychotherapist Michael Eisler is teetering on the brink of divorce. Mutual irritation, complaints, endless petty disputes and nagging - this is the world in which Michael’s son Alex, an inventive egocentric, endowed with a rich imagination, grows up. Only an outside threat, imaginary or real, can save the family. And this threat materializes from the morbid pedophilic fantasies of computer scientist Ted and the vindictive stubbornness of little Alex...