In *Beautiful Creatures*, set in the small town of Gatlin, a teenager named Ethan Wate is haunted by dreams of a girl he doesn’t know, Lena Ravenwood. After a chance encounter, Ethan learns Lena is a new student with a mysterious family history tied to dark magic. As they bond over poetry and shared losses, they face hostility from their peers, particularly from Ethan's girlfriend, Emily, who believes Lena is a witch.

Lena’s powers start to manifest during a classroom incident, heightening suspicions about her. Despite warnings from her uncle, Macon, Lena and Ethan grow closer, uncovering a family curse that could dictate Lena’s fate on her 16th birthday. This curse has plagued the Ravenwood women, forcing them to become either dark or light casters.

As Lena's birthday approaches, Ethan vows to help her break the curse. However, when Lena erases his memories to protect him, he forgets their relationship. On her birthday, a tragic event during a Civil War reenactment forces Lena to confront her powers and ultimately breaks the curse, but at the cost of Macon’s life.

In the end, Ethan still doesn’t remember Lena, but a chance encounter triggers his memories, suggesting their connection isn’t entirely severed. The film explores themes of love, identity, and the struggle between light and darkness.