Cryptid (2022) Movie Script

1
(rain pouring)
(keyboard clattering)
(thunder rumbling)
(keyboard clattering)
(keyboard clicking)
(thunder rumbling)
(rain pouring)
(thunder rumbling)
(upbeat rock music)
(engine revving)
(upbeat pop music)
- Shh.
(upbeat country music)
(creature hisses and snarls)
(body thumps)
- Oh, shit!
(tires screeching)
(rain pouring)
(wipers scraping)
God.
(engine idling)
(suspenseful music)
(flesh plopping)
What the fuck?
(creature snarling)
(Tommy screams)
(Tommy gasping)
(suspenseful music)
(Tommy choking)
(body scraping)
(Tommy groaning)
(rain pouring)
(birds chirping)
(chickens clucking)
(rooster crowing)
(Max moans)
- Oh.
Oh.
Oh.
(Max yawns)
(switch clattering)
God.
(Max sighs)
(mugs clink)
(coffee pouring)
(Max spitting)
God.
(wrapper crinkling)
(Max sighs)
(Max sighs and rubs hands)
Okay.
(Max inhales)
(Max exhales)
Fuck it.
(leaves rustling)
(engine revving)
(crows cawing)
- Oh, great.
How'd you hear about this?
- Oh, come on.
I'm shocked you have such
a little faith in me.
You know I have a sense
about these things.
(sighs) I was on my way to get
trash bags
and I saw the lights.
So what do you got going on?
Fender bender, drunk driver?
Elaborate murder-suicide?
- (sighs) Look,
as of right now, we're not
really sure.
We're still putting the pieces
together.
- Okay. Let's just start with
the basics.
(Charlie sighs)
Any dead?
- Yeah.
- How many?
- One.
- Who?
- I can't release that yet
till I talk to the family.
- Was anyone else involved?
- Not sure.
It doesn't appear so.
- All right, well, what did the
guy,
I mean, I assume it was a guy,
hit?
- Not sure.
- I mean, was it a tree or
another car,
an animal, was it Batman?
- We're done here.
- Well then speculate.
- I can't.
- Why not?
- Because I don't have
all of the facts yet.
- Well, that's never stopped
you before. (chuckles)
- Get the hell outta here, Max.
- Okay, okay, okay.
(Max sighs)
All right.
Listen, Charlie, I really
need your help here.
All right? I need a story,
badly.
I got bills up to my eyeballs,
my hot water got turned off last
week,
my electricity got
turned off this morning,
and I've been wearing the
same socks for six days.
Throw me a bone.
- I'm sorry, Max. I just can't.
- Come on, man, six days. You
owe me.
- I don't owe you shit.
In fact, you wanna start
tallying favors now?
- Mm, well probably not a good
idea. Okay.
All right. (clears throat)
I'm sorry, but I'm not kidding,
man.
I do need your help.
- (sighs) All right. Here's the
thing.
It looks like we may have an
animal attack on our hands.
- Okay. (chuckles) That's it?
I mean, what kind of animal
are we talking about here?
Is it a wolf, bear, mountain
lion?
- Would you just shut
up and I'll tell you?
You asked for something,
I'm giving it to you,
but you gotta turn that goddamn
thing off.
(button clicks)
- All right. Sorry.
- So given the size of the
damage, it could be a bear,
but we won't know sure
until the medical examiner
gets a chance to look at him.
- That's kind of odd, isn't it?
Bears don't generally
generally attack this close
to civilization, I mean, let
alone
on top of the road, do they?
- No, they do not.
The theory is that the
guy may have hit the bear,
gotten out to look and
the bear wasn't happy.
But again, we will not
know anything for sure
until the M.E. gets a look at
him.
- Oh, but you don't buy that, do
you?
No, no, that's why you're being
so,
so Charlie, about the whole
thing.
(birds chirping)
- Come here.
Let's just say that, um,
there are certain things I don't
like
about this scene, right?
And I'm gonna feel a
whole lot better about it
once I get that report back on
the guy,
but until then, that stays with
me.
Got it?
- Yeah, yeah.
Think I got everything I need
for now.
- Good. So get hell outta here.
I got work to do.
- Hey.
- Yeah?
- Are you okay?
- Yeah, I'm fine.
Go.
- You're beautiful, Charlie.
(door opens and closes)
(engine starting)
- Yeah.
Yep.
(engine revving)
(Max sighs)
(coin jangling)
(dial pad clicking)
(Max mutters)
- Hey beautiful, it's me. How
you doing?
Oh, I'm great, I'm great.
No, I didn't call about that.
Honestly, I didn't.
Hey, I remember our
conversation. Yeah.
Well, I'm actually, uh,
a little more interested
in the other body you got today.
(laughs)
I ran into Charlie this
morning and he told me.
I just wanted get a chance to
take a look.
(traffic whirring)
I mean, you know Charlie,
once he starts talking,
he's like a school girl at
Christmas.
Is there a problem?
(ominous music)
Hmm.
That bad, huh?
How big of an animal are
we talking about here?
Well can you make a guess?
No, no. If you can't, you can't.
I, I'm just asking.
Okay, no, no. Hey, it's no
problem.
I get it.
No, I appreciate the time.
All right, thanks. Talk to you.
(coin jangling)
- Great job last week, guys,
really,
you hit out of the park.
Nice work on the cartoons,
Bobby. Very good.
That group Route 2 incident,
you really captured the feel of
it.
And those photos, outstanding.
I felt like I was in the
football game at that point.
You guys are doing
amazing work, by the way.
I don't tell you that often
enough
but you should hear it from me.
Now, I need you to do even
more amazing work this week.
We gotta keep things going.
We've gotta keep the vibe...
- Hello?
- Harry, it's me.
Guess what? We're back in
business, baby.
(suspenseful music)
- I'm just saying, if I'd known,
I was gonna be waiting for 20
minutes,
I wouldn't have dropped
everything.
(Max sighs)
(door closes)
(switch clicking)
(Max laughs)
I had to get my
electricity turned back on.
- Did you call Bill?
- How do you think I got my
electricity turned back on?
- And he gave you an advance?
- Of course.
- He did?
- Yep.
- Just like that?
- Sort of.
- Uh, what do you mean?
What do you mean?
- There are a few
stipulations to the whole thing.
Caveats, if you will.
We just need to do a few things.
- We?
- We are a team, aren't we?
Together, as always.
One for all or all for one kind
of thing.
- Let's have it.
- Oh, it's nothing really.
We just need to send Bill the
first shots
of whatever we find, plus
a thousand word treatment
on his desk by Tuesday,
and then, you know,
may need to do a few bad jobs.
Nothing.
- Man, you are
the biggest fucking weasel!
Every time you do this to me,
I think it's gonna be the last
time,
and yet here I am again.
I need help.
- Come, have a seat.
I'll make you some nice cocoa,
and I'll show you what I've got.
- Okay. What is it this time?
- Well, let me tell you, at
first I thought nothing big,
but now I'm not so sure.
- What happened?
- And Charlie was off.
I mean, he was still Charlie,
but he just didn't seem right.
- Like how?
- I don't know, he just seemed a
little,
a little lost, maybe.
- He's probably just
putting things together.
- Yeah, maybe.
No, no. It seemed like more than
that.
I mean, I haven't seen
that look on him since...
- Since when?
- Since Nancy, I guess.
- Oh.
I, I'm sorry, Max, but
you're not making any sense.
- What?
Oh, I'm sorry. Hold on, listen.
So I came across an
accident on Route 2 today,
and I thought, "Great,
nice little fender bender.
Maybe grab a quick post
to the paper tomorrow,
score some cash."
- And Charlie was there?
- Yep. Along with two other
cruisers.
- Oh wow. Big time.
Okay, I'm with you so
far. So what did he say?
- Well that's just,
that's just it. Nothing.
The most I could get
out him was that someone
had died after possibly hitting
a bear.
- And?
- Where is this thing?
But it was the, here it is,
it was the way he said it, you
know?
I mean, he believed it
was a bear about as much
as if someone had told him old
Mrs. Atler
had hobbled down the
road and simultaneously
taken out the car and driver
in a primal fit of rage.
- (laughing) So what do you
think?
- Oh, no idea. (chuckles)
- None?
- No.
(Harriet sighs)
But listen.
My spider sense is tingling on
this one.
- (sighs) Dammit, Max, your
spider sense is always tingling.
It's gotten to the point where I
think
it's just an inner ear
infection.
I mean, this is pretty thin even
for you.
- Yeah, but I'm right. I know
it.
(Harriet scoffs)
Are you with me?
- I, I don't know.
I, I don't have time
for this right now, I...
- Come on.
I can't do it without you,
champ.
I need you.
- Whatever.
- Yes.
(Max claps)
(drawer opens)
So what's the plan?
- For now,
(flashlight thuds)
just a little recon.
- You never made me cocoa.
(insects chirping)
(crows cawing)
(water flowing)
(footsteps pattering)
You know where you're going?
- Yeah.
Let's see, the accident
happened back there,
which is south and you know,
judging by the broken branches
and markings on the shoulder,
it went off in this
direction, which is northeast.
- West, it's northwest.
- Right.
- What do you expect to find?
- Not entirely sure, but
I'll know when I find it.
- Of course.
I just don't wanna get caught
out here
when the sun goes down.
- Fair enough.
(crickets chirping)
Fucking...(sighs)
(foot thuds)
You know what? That's it.
I got nothing.
Shit. So much for...
- I'm guessing we're about
40 minutes from the car,
so we could probably press
on for another 15 or so.
- No, we've been all over this
area.
If there was something here,
we would've found it by now.
(suspenseful music)
- Hey,
check that out.
- What?
- There.
- Holy shit.
How did we miss this?
- We're two idiots with just a
compass
wandering around in the woods.
I'm amazed we found it.
- What kind of tracks are these?
- No idea.
- And do you think it could be
bear?
- Seems kind of small
for a bear, doesn't it?
The toes don't quite
match a bear's either.
Definitely less paw-like.
(chuckles) What?
I, I don't spend all my time
with you.
I have a life.
- Oh.
- You know?
- Okay.
Just give me the flashlight.
Start taking pictures.
- Fine.
(suspenseful music)
- Make sure to get a good
close-up of the claw marks.
- I will get them. I will get
them.
Damn backseat photographer.
(shutter clicking)
- Less paw-like.
(Max sniffing)
- Can you see the bottom?
(camera whirring)
(shutter clicking)
- No.
It's deeper than shit, I'll tell
you that.
Okay. You get everything?
- If it's here, I got it.
- Good. Let's get back.
Suddenly, I don't wanna
be here after dark either.
(phone ringing)
- Hello?
- Hey, it's me again.
Long time no hear.
- Hi.
I was just thinking about you.
- Oh, that's nice to hear.
Why, did Pete leave town?
- (chuckles) Very funny.
No, there seems to be some
complications
with that body you asked about.
- What kind?
- It's just so strange.
Listen, Max, I really
shouldn't be talking about this
until I can confirm something.
- Okay, dang, we're just
talking about it here.
You know, it's no big deal.
Yeah, so what's the plan?
Uh, what's the next step?
I just mean, you remember that
forensic expert friend
I have at Cal State?
Well he owes me a favor.
- It's nothing like that.
(Diane chuckles)
(suspenseful music)
Eh, maybe I'm overreacting.
- Are you sure I can't call my
friend?
He could at least
provide some added depth.
- He wouldn't be any good unless
he's a wildlife expert as well.
- Oh, unfortunately not.
Do you have somebody in
Portland?
- Boston, but we'll see.
Supposedly she's the best.
Listen, Max, I really gotta run.
You, uh, take care
- Wait, just,
- of yourself.
- just, would you,
just let me know if you find
anything?
- Sure. I'll do what I can.
- Excellent. No, I really
appreciate it.
Thank you.
- Sure, Max. Bye.
- Well?
- I think I got
what I needed.
- What did she say?
- I'll tell you this, whatever
happened
to that guy in the slab, she
doesn't know,
and that scares the hell
out of her so much so,
she swallowed her pride and
asked for help from the outside.
- Strange. Who?
- I don't know. She's a
wildlife expert out of Boston.
- Well, who would that be?
I mean, that's all we have to go
on?
- For now.
- Ah.
- You know what?
We can find out more.
It might be too late now.
Tomorrow, I want you to contact
this guy.
He works for the Wildlife
Preservation Society
out of Cambridge, I did a story
on him a couple years back.
Ask him to find out who's
advising Dr. Matthews on this.
Tell him that Diane said that
this woman
is the best, so he should know
her.
Best ones are rarely the obscure
ones.
Present company excluded.
With any luck, he'll know
exactly where to go on this.
If he gives you any shit about
it,
just remind him that he owes me
a favor.
Leave it at that.
- Okay, will do.
Here are the photos from today.
You really think this is
connected?
- I don't know.
I just wanna find out
if it's actually a bear
because otherwise, why
does it feel so shady?
You know, I mean, we'll stick on
this.
We'll get it.
- Yeah?
I wish I had the confidence you
do.
- A little faith, my dear, a
little faith.
That's all.
All right. You wanna a beer or
something?
- Nah, I'm heading out.
It's been a long day.
- Suit yourself.
(paper tears)
- Max, there's something you
should know.
- What'd you say?
What, what is it?
- Ah, it's nothing.
- Oh, come on. What is it?
- Just curious who you know at
Cal State?
- Hmm. Nobody.
- That's what I thought.
(Max chuckles)
(rain pouring)
(tags jangling)
(Helen sighs)
(thunder rumbling)
(suspenseful music)
(Dutch barking)
- Dutch!
(suspenseful music)
(Dutch barking)
Dutch! Come here, boy!
(Dutch growling)
Dutch!
(Dutch yelping)
Dutch, come on, boy! Dutch!
Dutch! Come on!
(intense music)
(footsteps pattering)
(Helen gasps)
(creature hisses and snarls)
(Helen screaming)
(creature growling)
(flesh tearing)
(suspenseful music)
(body bag zipping)
(birds chirping)
(water spraying)
(Charlie sighs)
- Hey, Charlie.
Chance to get a little closer
look?
- I can't do that. What
the hell are you thinking?
- Just tell me if it's
the same as the first one.
- Close enough for
government work, anyway.
Goddamn mayor's involved now.
He wants us to make sure we
keep a tight lid on everything.
- Good luck with that in this
town. Right?
- You ain't shittin'.
Poor woman probably never
even knew what hit her.
One minute she's walking
Dutch, the next...
(Max sighs)
(water spraying)
- I heard it might be a bear.
- Mm.
- Migrated down from Canada.
- I've never heard of a bear
doing anything like this.
But what the hell do I know?
Listen, Max. You gotta go.
If someone sees me talking
to you, I'm gonna hear it.
- Find Dutch?
- No,
and I don't expect we will.
Now get the hell outta here.
- Yeah. I try, thanks.
(water spraying)
- Max. What is it?
I was almost in.
- I have an idea.
(Harriet sighs)
- I don't like this.
Sonny looked sick.
- Yeah. Come on.
(suspenseful music)
(doors close)
- Uh, have a seat.
Can I, uh, offer you two some
coffee?
- Oh, I'd love some, black,
thanks.
- Miss Stanz?
- Oh, Harriet, please.
Uh, I'm good. Thanks.
- So, um, how long did you live
next door to Mrs. Stirgard?
- Oh, about eight years now.
- Thank you.
You two friends?
- We were friendly.
Hey, (chuckles) she's a nice
lady.
We were cordial to each other,
but just typical
(shutter clicking)
neighborly stuff, I suppose.
- Yeah.
(shutter clicking)
Hey, do you mind if I just
record this?
- Uh, no.
- Okay. Great.
Great coffee, by the way.
- Thanks.
- Well, I just wanted to
(taps fingers)
get that on the record.
(chuckles)
(clears throat) Anyway, um,
tell me everything that
happened last night
or at least everything you can
remember.
- Sure.
Like I told Sonny, I was
watching a movie,
and I heard a dog barking next
door.
Didn't think much of it.
And then there was a scream
afterwards.
Huh, that's when I got up
to see what was going on.
- And how long was that dog
barking
before you heard the scream?
- I don't know, TV was on,
I didn't really notice at first.
- Yeah, so at what point did you
get up
to go check it out and was it
before or after the scream?
- After. I turned the TV
off and went to the door.
- And could you still hear
the screaming at the door?
- No, no. It stopped by then.
I called 911.
- Hmm. What'd you think it was?
- Oh, I assumed it was Mrs.
Stirgard.
- You heard the dog
barking and then a scream
that sounded like Mrs. Stirgard,
but you didn't go over
there to check it out?
- It would've been safer not to.
- For who?
- What are you driving at?
- Oh, no, no, no.
Hey, look, I'm just trying to
get a picture here, you know?
I mean, you like the woman, she
was nice,
and why not just go over and try
to lend a helping hand
if she's in trouble?
It just seems a little, a little
cold.
That's all.
(Harriet chuckles awkwardly)
- Okay, okay, look, I
just...(sighs)
(snaps fingers)
Last spring,
I heard that you dug out Dave
Harper
after his truck slid off
the road into the gully
after all the rain that we had.
So this, I don't know, this
just doesn't seem like you.
You know, I mean, I've gotta
believe your first instinct
was to go over there and help.
- It was, actually.
- So why didn't you?
- I heard something.
- After the scream?
- Yeah, it was, it was
like an animal sound.
- An animal sound. Wha-Wha-What
kind?
- I, I don't know.
It wasn't like any sound
I'd ever heard before.
- Was it a growl like a bear?
- Not exactly, it...
Well, I don't know if I could
identify
a bear from this distance
anyway,
but it wasn't like any bear
I'd ever heard. (chuckles)
- All right. Well, can you
describe what it sounded like?
- Well, it had a kind of a hiss.
- A hiss, like a snake?
- No, no, I, I know this sounds
weird,
but I don't know how else to
describe it.
It was loud even over here
and, and it was like a roar,
but there was a definite hiss to
it.
- And that scared you
enough to call the police?
- Yeah.
- Did you hear anything
else after the hiss?
- No, but I didn't go outside
until the police showed up.
- Did you tell Sonny that?
- Yeah. I told him I
heard an animal noise.
He didn't ask any further.
(Max sighs)
- What do you wanna do?
- Huh.
Let's give it a bit to cool
down.
I wanna check out the
woods behind Helen's.
See if we can find another hole.
(crows cawing)
(birds chirping)
- Max, we've been back and forth
across her yard now for two
hours.
- We'll find it. We haven't
been this far out yet.
- (sighs) Bottom line
is I just don't wanna be
out here chasing our tails.
What? Why are you stopping?
- Another coincidence.
- Holy-
- Shit.
- Tracks everywhere.
Here, you start around the other
side.
- Okay.
(shutter clicking)
- Well they appear to be
the same anyway, that's good.
I wonder if...
(camera whirring)
- What?
(shutter clicking)
(dirt pattering)
Wonder if what?
What the fuck is it, Max?
(tags jangling)
(rain pouring)
(suspenseful music)
(ground rumbling)
(creature growling)
(phone buzzing)
- Okay,
have a nice weekend, bye-bye.
- Okay.
And?
(phone buzzing)
That's fine.
(phone clacks)
Hey, hey, where are you going?
(Harriet sighs)
(traffic whirring)
- Hey, I have some faxes
coming in for Doug Bradley.
(wrapper crinkling)
(register beeping)
(suspenseful music)
- $8.47.
- Um, sorry, what?
- $8.47.
- Uh...
Keep the change. Thanks.
You have got to see this.
(papers shuffling)
- Reptilian? Like a lizard?
- Apparently.
- Well, I don't know
how I feel about that.
- What the hell is this thing?
Where did it come from?
- I don't know,
but just as important,
how long has it been here?
Come here. You gotta look at
this.
(suspenseful music)
Okay.
So I went through most of the
local papers
from the surrounding counties,
and I found
a number of suspicious
or (chuckles) at least
what I deemed to be suspicious
attacks.
Take a look at these dates.
(humming) Backward from this
year.
So in October of 2017,
two people were killed in Knox
County.
In September of the same
year, there's one on Kennebec.
Then another in Cumberland
in November of 2016.
Till we move back to October of
2013,
where five people were killed
between Oxford and Franklin
County.
Now each time this seems to be
happening
in either September, October, or
November,
Other than a few rare attacks in
December,
they completely stop after that.
I mean, I don't know
why, but it's gotta be
some kind of pattern, it's gotta
be.
I traced it back to
1958, for Christ's sake.
- How could this not be noticed?
I mean, there has to be
something.
- If there is, no one's
ever said anything,
and there's never been a living
witness.
- What about this guy
Dobson? What's his deal?
I mean, his dog gets
killed near his house,
he hears it, but sees nothing?
- (chuckles) I thought the same
thing.
I looked him up. Clint
Dobson, he's over in Otis,
tried calling him on
whatever number I could find,
but disconnected.
- Let's take a ride.
(suspenseful music)
So you said there was a pattern?
Well, what's the pattern?
- The counties.
(papers rustling)
See, I started with the most
recent
and I worked my way back.
The original idea was to
try to find a kind of hotbed
for where most of the attacks
occurred,
but when I started to mark off
each one,
something else happened.
- I see a bunch of circles.
- Mm-hmm.
(Harriet chuckles)
Those are migration patterns.
- But how can that be?
- I don't know.
That's what we're gonna find
out.
- Have you ever heard
of a creature that has
this kind of migration cycle?
- No, but I'm far from an
expert.
- It looks like each fall,
it moves on to a new location.
- Mm-hmm.
- And it sets up shop,
attacking, one, two, three,
five times.
- Yep. Keep going.
- And then by the time
it circles back around
to the original spot, it's
like seven to 10 years later.
So it has a clean slate at that
point.
Jesus.
(Max chuckles)
- Welcome to the dark side.
(doors beep and close)
(Marie humming)
(tools clattering)
- Max.
- Um, excuse me.
(tools clattering)
Excuse me!
- Oh my God.
You scared me. (scoffs)
- (chuckles) Sorry about that.
Uh, do you live here?
- I do. What can I do for you?
- We're looking for a Clint
Dobson.
Does he still live here?
- I'm afraid you're a little
late.
He passed a few years back.
I'm his daughter, Marie.
- Oh, I see, uh,
I'm Max, and this is Harriet.
- I'm sorry for your loss.
- Don't be. He was an asshole.
- What about your mother?
Is she still around?
- No, she had even less of a
tolerance
for his bullshit than I did.
She left a long time ago.
What is this about?
- Oh, we're from the Trenton
Record.
Uh, we had wanted to
ask him some questions
about when his dog was attacked
and killed a while back.
- You mean Blackie?
You (chuckles), you came over
from Trenton
to ask about that?
Why do you wanna know?
- Did he ever say anything about
it?
You know, anything about that
night?
- Not to me.
I was away at school at the
time.
(chuckles) I swear, he
loved that dog more than us,
but as you can imagine, we
weren't
on the best of terms at that
time.
So I didn't talk to him much.
I know there's a, there's a
fence
back in there somewhere because
of it.
- Uh, any brothers or sisters
who might have been around?
- I have an older brother in
California,
but he was gone by then too.
- What about any friends he
might have told or you know,
journals he might have had?
- You kidding?
My father could hold up his
beer bottle and not much else.
- Okay, well, it was worth a
shot.
Thanks for your time, Marie.
We won't take up any more of it.
- Thanks again.
(dog barking)
- Actually, wait.
(suspenseful music)
You know, at the end he,
he was pretty out of it
with the drugs and everything.
He kept slipping in and out of
time.
And one day he started
talking about Blackie.
He kept going on and on
about the hiss getting him.
Something like that.
We all just thought he
was talking nonsense, but
there was something
about the way he said it
that it really stuck with me.
The hiss.
He kept repeating it. (chuckles)
Scared me a little.
Uh, is that anything?
- (chuckles) It actually is.
Thank you again.
- Thanks.
(suspenseful music)
Okay. I can't believe I'm
saying this, but I'm in.
The problem is I just
can't wrap my brain around
the whole season thing.
What is it about the months of
October
and November that bring it out?
Why is it so active during those
times?
- I know, that is a big one.
- We have to get Bill involved
now.
- Are you kidding me?
All we have now are theories.
Bill's way past that.
- We need the help.
Not, not to mention, he's gonna
want something soon anyway.
You can't keep this secret
from him much longer.
- Oh, I know.
(sighs) I'm just gonna have to
get crafty,
but, hey, that's my game.
- I think you should play
dumb, that's really your game.
- Uh-huh. Uh-huh-huh-huh.
Well, look who found a sense of
humor.
Hey, I taught you well.
- Oh, glad you could
take credit for that too.
So now what?
- Well there's still a bunch of
stuff
I gotta get through tonight, but
tomorrow,
I mean, we need to find out
everything
we can about reptiles.
Maybe that'll least
send us in a direction,
but you know, my
Internet's been backing up,
so let's go to your place.
- (sighs) I can't tomorrow.
Bill assigned me to the
Beauregard job.
- The dog show?
- Pays, yes. A gig's a gig.
I ought to use my camera for
something
that actually brings in money.
- I can't believe I'm getting
usurped
by a bunch of animals
that eat their own shit.
- Hey, there will also be dogs
there.
(Max laughs)
Relax. I should be out by two,
the latest.
- All right, well then meet
me at the library, I guess.
I'll use the computers there.
It looks like I'll be getting
my mail there for a bit.
- Hmm. Fair enough.
What stuff do you have to go
over tonight?
- Uh, well, I need to go
over your photos more,
and then there's some articles
I haven't even touched yet.
Why?
- Take a break? Head over
to Millie's for a drink?
(both chuckle)
(engine starting)
- You buying?
- Damn, this story better pan
out.
- Hmm.
(engine revving)
(rain pouring)
(suspenseful music)
(saddle jangling)
(horse chuffing)
(thunder rumbling)
(creature growling)
(suspenseful music)
(thunder rumbling)
(bucket bangs)
(suspenseful music)
(horse neighing)
(creature snarls and hisses)
(flesh tearing)
(horse shrieking)
(intense music)
(rain pouring)
(John breathes uneasily)
(wind whistling)
(floor creaking)
- Seriously. You're a great
journalist.
So why are you freelancing
for this shitty-ass paper?
You should be in staff
in Boston or New York.
- Mm, no.
(soft rock music)
I would never ever work for a
paper
that covers the Yankees, you
know that.
Hey, can I have another?
- Jesus Christ.
(sighs) Can't you be serious for
a second.
- You ever work in a factory,
Harry?
- What?
- Well my dad did.
He managed a hack and slash unit
there.
- I have no idea what you just
said.
- (chuckles) Selective
deforestation is what they call
it.
- Okay. So what does that
have to do with anything?
- Uh, my dad died on the job.
- I didn't know that. I'm sorry.
- Who knew that's what slaving
away
at a job for 32 years gets you?
You know, one minute
you're working your ass off
50, 60, 70 hours a week
outta some half-cocked notion
to send your son to college and
the next,
well, the next you're not.
- Half-cocked? That's
a pretty good reason.
- Oh my God. It's just such
a fucking waste of life.
- You can't look at it like
that.
- Well, maybe not, but I do
anyway.
Yeah, it made me realize
how fragile everything was.
How you can't assume
anything and the thought
of going down that same path
was so goddamn suffocating.
I mean, you didn't grow up here,
right?
I mean, you don't realize
how bad it can get.
That wasn't gonna happen to me.
No.
I was gonna take my
shots, wherever that led.
No nets, no regrets.
- And yet here you are.
- (chuckles) Did you know
that after my dad died,
I left for five years?
- Why'd you come back?
- Oh, my mom got sick.
Ovarian cancer, not good.
The paper was looking for
a journalist and I needed,
well, something while I was
here.
She died about a year later
and I would've left again
for good if it wasn't for Nancy.
She and Charlie were
still living in the house
their parents left him at the
time,
and Nancy was working editorials
for Bill.
And (laughs) here I come
blowing in like the wind.
My head's still spinning from
everything
that happened with my mom.
God, I was such a mess.
(soft rock music)
(customers chattering)
She probably saved my life.
- It's because you actually
started putting down roots.
- (laughs) It was a fantasy.
And what did that get me?
Dead fiance, that's what.
Nancy lived her whole
life in this damn town
out of some obligation to these
people.
My dad wasted his life trying to
do
something that didn't need
doing.
And what did that get either of
them?
- Well, that's a shitty way to
look at it.
Nancy was here because she
cared about these people,
and your dad worked in
order to give you something
that he never had, something you
needed.
- I needed a father.
I'm here right now because I
have to be,
but once I get my shot, I'm out.
- Oh, bullshit.
That is bullshit and you know
it.
You're here because you want to
be here.
No, because you love it here.
(Max laughing)
No, because
this place means something to
you.
It's your home.
Why, why do you think
you always come back?
No, what were doing, it
doesn't work in a vacuum
and try as you might,
you can't escape that.
You're just too chickenshit to
admit it.
You think that by living on the
outside
and dating married women, it's
easier
to have one foot out the door,
but that's just emotional
suicide.
And at some point you're gonna
wake up
and realize there's no
one left who gives a fuck.
- Now then, what is this sudden
interest
in my goals and ambitions?
- I'm leaving.
- What?
- I got a job in Boston.
- Where did this come from?
- I, I applied for it a couple
weeks back.
They made me an offer two days
ago.
- Huh. And why didn't you tell
me?
- I don't know. I guess I
thought, I...
I don't know what I thought.
- Wait a minute.
Wait, is this why you
agreed to help me on this?
Is it?
- Not entirely.
- Oh, not entirely.
That's great. I feel so much
better.
Thank you.
- (sighs) Dammit, Max.
I'm here. What's the difference?
- Yeah, for now. I mean,
when are you going?
- The 10th.
- The 10th? That, that's next
week.
Fuck! What about the story?
- What about the story?
Tell Bill now.
- Oh!
- Let's show him what we've got.
He can bring in people
- No, no, no, no.
- to help.
- I am not giving it to those
jackals.
You have to stay on.
- I can't.
- You have to.
I can't tell anyone. Not now.
We just had a huge
breakthrough and we're close.
This is my big shot once and for
all.
You can't leave yet.
- I'll, I'll stay as long as I
can.
That's the best I have to offer.
You are really up fucking up my
shit.
- I know, and I'm sure this
hasn't gone the way you planned.
Just please,
just do this one last thing for
me
and I won't ask you anymore.
- I worry about you sometimes.
- I'm fine.
Just please, just, just help me
on this.
- Fine.
Uh, I should go. I have an early
day.
I'll see you tomorrow.
- Okay, yeah.
Tomorrow.
- Goodnight, Max.
(customers chattering)
- Good night.
(footsteps thudding)
(door opens)
- Another round, Max?
Max, can I get you another
round?
- Um, no, I'm fine, Kell.
Thanks. I'm taking off.
- Okay, hon. Just be careful
driving home.
Max, you all right?
- Uh, yeah, of course.
Sorry, uh, never better.
(birds chirping)
(indistinct chattering)
- Hey.
- It's about time. I'm
fricking drowning here.
I need your eyes.
- Sorry, I got held up.
Uh...
Ever see 30 dogs decide they
wanna bite
at some guy's hot dog at the
same time?
It will change your life.
(pages flipping)
I see you've abandoned the
interwebs.
- Mm.
I got desperate.
I've tried everything I can
think of.
Feeding patterns, migration
courses, changes in temperature,
time of year, different breeds
of species.
I, I can't find anything about a
reptile
that's nocturnal, feeds
at one time of year,
has a very large but
steady migratory pattern,
and is big enough to attack a
human.
Nothing. I'm tapped out.
- How close do you think this
thing is
to the end of its cycle?
- Close. Look at the pattern.
As far back as I've
look, it attacks three,
maybe five times at the
most before moving on.
- It's like it stocks
up before hibernating.
- Mm-hmm, and whatever it is,
it's smart.
It knows how to stay hidden.
So this may be all we get,
and then it'll be gone and
may not resurface again
for at least a year.
- That's a tight window.
- Yeah.
I feel like I'm slamming my head
against
a brick wall because of it.
I don't know. I mean, maybe
you can find the connection.
- Okay, but we need another
entry point.
Let's, let's bring in a game
warden
or an expert from Portland.
Let's show them what we've got.
Lay it out for them, see what
they say.
- I don't know. Maybe you're
right.
You call Heath again and ask
him-
- No, that's not what I meant.
- Ask him if there's been, I
don't know,
any increase in bear attacks in
this area
over the last couple of years,
all right?
If we're lucky, he'll think
we're just following up
for a sideline story for
everything
that's been going on around
here.
If we get really lucky,
I mean, uh, who knows?
Maybe we'll get some
details about the attacks
that are being withheld.
- Max,
what's that gonna prove?
We need new information
from a real source?
What, what could he say
that could possibly help us?
- Well, we won't know until
he says it now, will we?
- That's asinine. You're just
stalling.
- For what?
- For the big break
or something like it.
(Max scoffs)
I just don't see how we can get
it
without tipping our
hand at least a little.
- Shit, just...
(Max sighs)
Okay, uh, look, I'll make you a
deal.
Call Heath and see what he says.
(Harriet inhales)
Just see what he says.
If nothing comes of it then,
I don't know, we'll go your way.
Sound like a plan?
- That's another thing.
Why am I calling him?
He's your friend. You
should call him yourself.
- Harry, come on. Really?
Why are we quibbling
over things like this?
Very important things I
have to be doing instead.
Besides, I hate to have
to owe the guy anything.
He's kind of a snake.
You know the type?
- Yeah.
Yeah, I know the type.
(traffic whirring)
(Max humming)
(plastic crinkling)
(plastic tearing)
- Oh, hi, Max.
- Oh, hi, Mrs. Atler.
How are things?
- Ah, well, this rain
is knocking the hell out of my
arthritis,
but other than that, I'm living.
- Oh, guess that's a plus these
days.
- Oh, it's awful what
happened to Helen, isn't it?
- I know. It's a shame.
- Max, listen, Pippet hasn't
been snooping
around your garbage cans again,
has he?
- Um, no, Mrs. Atler, why?
- Well, the little sucker
took off on me last night
and he hasn't been back this
morning,
and I just thought maybe
he slipped under the fence
and was, had at your
garbage, you know? (chuckles)
- No, ma'am, at least not that
I've seen.
- I'm starting to get a bit
worried.
Remember last year when
Susie McClellan's terrier
got caught in that bear
trap out behind Leo's place?
- My God, that's right.
- Oh yeah.
It was an awful mess.
I just hope that Pippet
has more sense than that.
- I'm sure he does.
I know old guy's outfoxed
me more than a couple times,
(Mrs. Atler chuckles)
trying to chase him away
from my cans.
- Well that's Pippet for ya.
Hmm, well, if you see him,
can you just walk over and let
me know?
- Absolutely.
I'm sure Pip's just having
himself
a little party with his friends.
- Mm, don't I know it.
- He'll be back.
- (laughs) Bye-bye, Max.
Keep an eye out.
(suspenseful music)
- Why is there a hole in it?
Look, you should get another
one.
It looks like something was
digging in it.
- Uh, no, that's fine. I'll take
it.
- Are you sure?
'Cause it looked like someone
fingered it.
- No. No. Uh, just ring it up.
I'll take it.
(scanner beeps)
Holy fuck.
- Hey, you want your change?
- Keep it.
Actually, I don't know, I was
thinking I'm gonna need that.
Thank you.
- Frome.
- Bill.
What are you doing here?
- We're having
a birthday party for my niece.
You, you remember Jackie, right?
- Oh yeah, sure. They, uh,
still over on Bay Street?
- Yeah, we ran out of drinks for
the kids,
so I'm making the run.
- Oh, lucky you.
- Oh, I know.
Look, I'm really glad I ran into
you.
We need to talk.
- Can it wait?
I'm onto something. I really
gotta go.
- Max, where's my story?
- Bill, I am so
close right now, I can taste it.
I think I might have just
figured something out.
When you hear about it,
you're gonna piss yourself.
- Can you prove it?
- Not yet, but soon.
All I need-
- Max, please.
We really need to talk.
- Oh, we really need to talk.
Sure.
- I agreed to let your
freelance because I thought
it would be good for you to take
some
time off after Nancy died.
Look, Max, you've given me
some really great stories
over the years, but there comes
a time
when I have to weigh what I get
from you
against what it takes to get it.
- (scoffs) I can't believe
you would say that.
- Drop it. I am just tired
of dealing with your shit.
And the truth is, we don't need
it.
I don't need it.
- What are you saying?
- You're gonna need someplace
else to find your money from.
- Are you kidding me, Bill?
After everything I've given you?
- Huh.
- I mean, what about this
story? You promised me.
- That's right, I did.
And if whatever this is that
you think that you're chasing
shows up gold, I'll buy it, but
that's it.
I'm done. You understand?
- I understand.
You just wait and see.
You're gonna want me back.
You just wait and see.
- I'm sorry, Max.
Maybe it's time for you to move
along.
You're way past due to leave
again anyway.
Now you don't have an excuse.
Take care of yourself.
- Bill.
(door opens)
Fuck.
(coin jangling)
(dial pad clicking)
(Max sighs)
Harry, it's me.
Hey, don't worry about calling
Heath.
I'll do that.
Meet me at my house
tomorrow morning instead.
I need you to check on
something else for me.
(rain pouring)
(vehicle approaching)
(door opens and closes)
(thunder rumbling)
(footsteps pattering)
(branch snaps)
(suspenseful music)
(creature hissing)
(bushes rustling)
(intense music)
(creature hissing)
(crows cawing)
(knocks on door)
(suspenseful music)
(leaves rustling)
(knocks on door)
(door creaking)
- Fuck! Jesus Christ!
You scare the balls off me.
Little early to be drinking,
isn't it.
- Come on. You gotta see this.
- What?
- Come on.
- What the hell is this about?
Holy shit.
- Whoa, don't.
- Have you seen it?
- No, but Mrs. Atler's dog went
missing.
Heard some strange noises
in the woods last night.
So could be.
- That sells it.
- Uh, what are you doing?
- Calling Charlie?
- Are you nuts?
- Uh, Sheriff Murdoch, please.
This has gone on too far. We
need help.
- Do you realize what this could
do?
- Hey Charlie, it's Harriet.
(suspenseful music)
I appreciate it. All right.
See you later. Okay.
He'll be here after his shift.
- (scoffs) Goddammit.
- Let's go back inside.
I have some stuff you need to
hear about.
- What's the point now?
- Don't be a baby.
Come on.
(crows cawing)
(suspenseful music)
- Hmm.
(bottle clinks)
(bottles clink)
Beer?
- Seriously?
(Max sighs)
(gas hisses from bottle)
- All right.
(bottle cap clattering)
What do you got?
- A lot, actually.
I don't know what it all means
yet,
but I did some backtracking
and I found some interesting
shit.
- Do tell, kemosabe.
(suspenseful music)
- So I started out by
going back about 20 years,
which is as far back as the
internet
would carry me on the daily
weather.
I took each date that you gave
me of a supposed bear attack,
and, goddammit, if it didn't
correspond
to some kind of rainstorm
the previous night.
What's more, during the
years when there were
multiple attacks in a given
place,
it was during the biggest
rainfall season.
- I can't believe it.
- If that blew your dick,
wait till you hear this.
I decided to keep going back
further.
So, I went to the library
this morning and I checked
the newspaper weather forecast
against the earlier attacks.
And to the fucking letter,
(hand taps)
there was some kind of rainstorm
listed.
Now who knows if it
actually did rain or not,
but the coincidence is
overwhelming.
- Wait, but how far back did you
go?
- 75 Years.
- Huh.
- And who knows how much
further that goes back?
Are we saying what I think we're
saying?
- Yeah, the rain.
I mean, it makes sense.
- Right, but why?
- I have a theory.
I talked to Heath, I asked
him if he knew of any creature
that hunt specifically
in the rain and he said,
"Not presently."
- What, what does that mean?
- That's what I said.
Do you know what he told me?
You know what, let me get
my notes so I say it right.
- [Heath] Have you ever heard
of the Holocene Epoc era?
- No.
- No, me either.
Anyway, during this time,
most of the larger predatory
animals began to be phased out
by the smaller, faster animals,
but there is some evidence
to show that a certain number
of the larger creatures
began to use the rain as
cover to hunt their prey
through the thick underbrush of
a jungle.
- Right, but would it be
possible
to have one of these
creatures alive today?
- [Heath] No, no, no.
They were around for such a
short time.
It would be very unlikely.
- So where does that leave us?
- Oh, hang on now.
I asked 'em, I said,
"What if one of these
creatures did survive?
You know, what if it was
able to evolve as well
and grow sharper, faster,
pass the skills on
from generation to generation?"
And he said.
- [Heath] Well, it'd be
reptilian, that's for sure.
They adapt easier and
have longer life spans,
but its size would come down.
It's gotta find a balance
with the animals around it.
- Makes sense. Life, uh, finds a
way.
- (chuckles) Right.
Now this reptile would
most likely be nocturnal,
you know, because it
would increase its chances
of staying out of sight
and its hunting success.
I mean, especially since it'd
be fighting off extinction.
- What about size?
How much smaller does he
think it would've gotten?
Like the size of a dog or what?
- Get this.
- I don't know.
A small bear, maybe.
- You've gotta be shitting me?
- Nope.
I couldn't believe it when he
said that,
but, of course, then he went on
to say
how this is all theory and
the chances of a creature
like that avoiding detection by
society
are astronomical, blah, blah,
blah.
- Well, (sighs) at least
we should have enough
for a story at this point.
- Yeah, well, maybe, but I want
proof.
- Why?
Uh!
- Because I don't want
just a base hit, I want a grand
slam and proof will do that.
Otherwise, it's just another
crazy story. A Cryptid.
- A what?
- Cryptid.
It's a term using Cryptozoology.
It refers to a creature
that is believed to exist,
but scientifically unproven.
- Like Bigfoot and Loch Ness?
- Exactly.
- Mm.
Well, at least we have
credibility on our side.
- Clearly.
- So why not use Charlie?
(suspenseful music)
If we can convince him of this,
maybe he can provide us the
proof we need.
- You know what?
You might be right.
He tags it and bags it,
we get everything we need.
- Yes. Yes.
Let the people with the guns
find the murder creature.
I'm definitely a fan of that.
You should call Bill
Seriously, this is good news.
And he's like 20 stages beyond
anxious
to get something from you.
- Yeah, no, I will, I will.
I just, you know, first
we gotta convince Charlie.
- How hard do you think that'll
be?
- Uh, well, Charlie's a rock,
tough as hell with no
imagination,
but he's also very smart.
He's trained to look at facts
and to draw conclusions, so
that reason alone, I
think he'll believe us.
- I don't believe you.
- Oh, come on Charlie.
Look at what we have here. All
right?
I mean, you saw the holes.
You heard the stories.
Wait, you wanna see the map
again?
- No.
- Harry, show 'em the map
again.
- No, I do not need
to see your damn map again.
I have heard everything you
said.
- Okay, then why won't you
just accept the possibility
that this could be true?
- Because it's foolish.
You have one half-baked
theory based on another.
It's like a house of
cards flipped upside down.
Everything you believe in,
everything you think is right,
is based on a leap of
faith the size of Montana.
- Yeah, but what if you take
that leap,
just for a second, what
if you open that brick
you call a head and just explore
the idea?
- 'Cause I don't have
time to explore the idea.
The mayor is so far up my ass,
I am spitting out buttons.
And believe it or not, genius,
it's really pretty simple.
As the population grows around
here,
we keep pushing the forest
back further and further,
limiting the space and the food
that is available to these
bears.
Yes, bears.
Eventually, bam! They collide.
- The crazy thing is I
believe you're right.
Just not the part you think.
All of these things you're
talking about,
deforestation, increase in
population.
I mean, hell, throw climate
change
and global warming on top of
that.
We've been cornering it,
forcing it out into the open to
get bolder
out of fear of extinction.
- All right. How do you explain
this rain business, hmm?
Why doesn't it happen in the
spring?
That's the rainiest time.
- Uh, not here.
October and November have
the most rainfall each year,
most in inches and most days.
(Max exhales)
- All right, fine.
Then how do you explain the
disappearance
every time we send a hunting
party out?
- Coincidence.
- Coinc...? Jesus.
Max, open your goddamn eyes!
Are you so hard up for a story
now
that you will believe
anything that comes through,
even if it's not true?
And you, Harriet.
I wouldn't have thought
you would get mixed up
in something like this.
- Okay, look, I get it.
It's hard to accept at
first, but it makes sense.
(Charlie scoffs)
No, just,
just take that hole outside, for
instance.
Have you ever seen a bear
make something like that?
Or, or leave those kinds
of tracks outside it?
What about the M.E.
report? What about that?
- What about it?
- Oh, cl,
clearly it backs up what we're
describing.
- How do you know that?
I never even saw an M.E. report.
(suspenseful music)
- Oh, okay.
- How is that possible?
- There was a problem at the
lab.
Some samples got contaminated.
We're still waiting.
Are you saying you've seen
something?
Where did you get this?
- Where do you think?
Charlie, that first day
I saw you in the street,
when the driver hit this thing,
you said something
about this bothered you.
Do you remember that?
- Of course.
- What was it? What bothered
you?
- (sighs) The victim was
partially eaten.
- [Harriet] What?
- Most of his internal organs
were gone
as well as parts of his arms and
legs.
- And what about Mrs. Stirgard?
- Same thing.
- [Harriet] I don't get it.
- Generally, bears kill out of
defense.
They, it's like someone
threatens
their territory or they're
young.
- Meaning not for food.
- That is not always the case.
- Oh my God, come on!
I've read enough about
this in the last few days
to know that it's only
in extremely rare cases
that bears attack out of
hunger, and now we've had what?
Two in less than a week.
That's damn near impossible.
- Three.
- What?
- What do you mean three?
- Who was the third?
- A horse was killed a few days
ago.
(suspenseful music)
- Oh my God. Use your damn head,
man!
- This is bullshit, bullshit!
- But the...
- I'm sorry.
The mayor needs this cleared
up as soon as possible.
He believes it's a bear and so
do I.
I have to.
I cannot pin the safety of this
town
on some mythical creature that
no one has ever seen before.
- What if you're wrong?
What if this thing doesn't run
and hide in the next county?
How bad will it get then?
- Look, we are sending
a hunting party out tomorrow.
So if I'm wrong, and what you
say is true, we will know.
(suspenseful music)
- Nancy would've believed me.
(door slams)
- Fuck you!
- She would have, and you know
it.
- Fuck you!
(tense music)
Of all the slimy, lowdown things
you could do that is the worst!
How dare you use her for this?
- Use her?
I'm not using her for anything.
I'm trying to get you to see
what is right
the fuck in front of your face!
- You are looking out for
yourself,
which is what you do best!
And I never understood
what she saw in you ever!
- Okay, good, good, good.
Now it comes out.
Well, you know what?
Neither did I, but that
doesn't change the fact
that she loved me and I
loved her more than I,
more than I could have possibly
imagined.
You're just pissed off 'cause I
was able
to give her something that you
couldn't.
- I gave her everything.
When our parents died,
I raised her the best
that I could to do right by
them!
I gave her everything!
- You gave her rules then
regulations.
You gave her fear of the world
around her.
You gave her a prison.
- I gave her protection!
- A lot of good that did!
(fist thwacks)
- Ooh!
Whoa, whoa, Charlie.
(Max sighs)
Just...(sighs)
- I can't.
I just, I can't.
- Charlie.
- I just can't.
(Max sighs)
(Max sighs)
- Well,
that could have gone better.
- You are a charmer.
(Max chuckles)
- Fuck.
(both sigh)
Now what?
- I know a game warden in
Portland.
Um, I could go talk to him.
See if he'll come here.
Then we can try to go to work on
him.
- You mean like torture him?
(Harriet laughing)
(Max chuckles)
I'm really gonna miss you.
- Me too.
- (sighs) I'm sorry about all
this.
I'm sorry I took the only
person who actually believes me
and put you in the
middle of this shitstorm.
(Max sighs)
- Thank you for saying so.
- Well the truth is,
you're the best person
I've ever worked with
and, uh, well, a real friend.
I just thought if...
I don't know, if we found
this thing together, then...
(sighs) I don't even know
what I thought, I just...
Anyway, I, I'm sorry.
- It's okay.
(inhales) Despite my complaints,
you make me see things in a
different way,
and I like that
(Max chuckles)
Be safe, okay?
- Aren't I always?
(Harriet chuckles)
- I should be back in
a couple hours anyway.
(footsteps thudding)
(Max inhales)
(rain pouring)
(suspenseful music)
(thunder rumbling)
(vehicle approaching)
(rain pouring)
(ignition clicks)
(key scrapes)
Here. Mm.
Uh, wait here for a second?
- Sure.
- Thanks.
(Max sighs)
(thunder rumbling)
(shoes squeaking)
(thunder rumbling)
(rain pattering)
(Harriet gasps)
(intense music)
(body thuds)
(Harriet gasps and chokes)
(blood gurgling)
(Harriet yelps)
(creature hisses)
(Max gasping)
(creature snarling and hissing)
(footsteps squishing)
(door slams)
(Max panting)
(footsteps thudding)
(creature hissing)
(Max gasping)
(creature hissing)
(claws scraping)
(rain pouring)
(creature snarls and hisses)
(Max gasping)
(footsteps thudding)
(Max breathes heavily)
(soft dramatic music)
(keyboard clattering)
(door opens)
(Charlie sighs)
- Afternoon, sheriff.
- Hey, Beth.
- The mayor is here to see you.
- What?
- The mayor.
He's in your office.
- Charlie.
- Tom.
(wind whistling)
(birds chirping)
(soft dramatic music)
(paper whacks)
(Max sighing)
(Max screams)
(objects clattering)
(Max breathes heavily)
(soft dramatic music)
(phone ringing)
(phone beeps)
(Charlie sighs)
- Uh, Charlie, it's me.
I think there's not much time
left.
It's supposed to rain tonight
but not again for a while,
and by that time, who
knows where it'll be?
And I can't let this stand.
You know, not now.
(suspenseful music)
So I'm headed out at sundown.
I know you don't buy
that story in the paper.
You knew it then and you
sure as hell know it now.
I just hope, (sighs)
I just hope you believe me
because I'm asking for your
help.
Okay? Uh...
Please, please help me.
(suspenseful music)
(crickets chirping)
(thunder rumbling)
(Max sighs)
(vehicle approaching)
I didn't think you'd show.
- Where'd you get the gun?
- It was my dad's.
- Yeah, well
when was the last time you fired
it?
- I don't know. Probably when
was 16.
(Charlie clears throat)
(gun clacking)
Are you here to stop me?
Because you can save it.
That fucker killed Harriet and
I'm not-
- Max, I just don't want
you to blow your foot off.
(gun clacking)
- I saw the papers today.
Get everything you wanted?
- They did, and then some.
- Everyone happy?
- Almost everyone.
Look, unfortunately, I couldn't
get as many as I needed,
what with the emergency
being over and all,
but I trust these guys.
Uh, this is John Pendleton.
He's the one whose horse
got killed the other day.
Might be related.
- John.
Deputy.
- Max.
- Thanks for coming out, guys.
- No problem.
It sucks about, Harriet.
She was a special girl.
- Yeah she was.
Charlie fill you guys in one the
details?
- He did. (scoffs)
I'm not quite sure I believe it,
but
I've never known Charlie to
lie or even stretch the truth,
so I'll take his word for
it till I know better.
- John's family owns a lot
of the surrounding property
that will most likely be headed
through.
- We've done our fair
share of big game hunting,
so we should be able to track
this thing.
- All right, listen up.
(thunder rumbling)
We are going to stay in
constant visual contact
of each other, all right?
You make sure that you always
have
a sight line to everybody else.
No one goes off alone.
You. I'm giving you six
hours and that's it.
Six hours, Max.
When I call it, I call it. It's
done.
And I don't give a shit what
you say, I will drag your ass
out of there by your ears if I
have to.
- Charlie...
(Max sighs)
Listen, I appreciate you guys
coming down to help me, I do.
All right, but you also need to
understand
that I'm here no matter what
I'm headed out into those woods.
I have to, but you don't.
(thunder rumbling)
- If it's what you say it is,
then we've got bigger
problems than just tonight.
I am in.
- He's right.
If this thing killed Harriet,
I'm fucking in.
- And hell, I'm the only
one with the legal right
to authorize this so
if that means wandering
through the woods in
the middle of the night
with the likes of you then, then
so be it.
- Let's go.
- Say, Max, come here for a
second.
I, um...
About the other day, um, didn't-
- I know, Charlie. You
don't have to say anything.
- No, I do. I do.
I did not mean it.
- I know, neither did I.
- You're a good man, Max.
And I consider you family.
- Thank you, Charlie.
- Let's do this.
(Max breathes deeply)
(suspenseful music)
(rain pouring)
(footsteps pattering)
(thunder rumbling)
- [Sonny] Hey, shut that off.
- Yeah, why?
- Don't use that
unless you absolutely have to.
- Why?
- It kills night vision.
You just let your eyes
adjust to the darkness,
you'll be able to see
everything.
Use that flashlight, you can
only see
what's in the beam of light.
- How do you know that?
- Night hunting.
(suspenseful music)
(rain pouring)
- Hold up, guys.
John, hold that.
I wanna cross-check this.
(bag unzips)
(map crinkling)
(flashlight clicks)
Okay, uh, this area here,
it's our best chance of spotting
it.
I figure if we push east,
we can skirt past Prospect Hill
and hit this patch of
forest on the south side.
Then if we spread out
across this old farm,
we can cover a good stretch of
land.
- Okay, so, there's a creek
that runs through here and
through here,
and there's a small
canyon on the other side.
Now, if we just stay on this
narrow band,
we should be able to, uh,
cover a lot of the back part
of the property in no time at
all.
Now, that old farm you're
talking about,
that's Jackson Farm.
Now I've been there.
Uh, thing it likes to dig,
right?
- Yeah, deep tunnels.
- See this patch just above
Jackson Farm
by Buzzard Creek Trail?
No rocks, no trees, just
tracts of open land.
- All right. Sounds like a plan.
(map crinkling)
(gear rustling)
(footsteps pattering)
(rain pouring)
(suspenseful music)
- Ho.
It's still fresh.
- There's more on this tree.
- Something got hit here.
It's headed northeast.
- Well, it's like your idea
about the Jackson Farm was
right.
- Well, I'm beginning to think
that I'm not too happy about
that.
- You okay, John?
- Yeah, I'm fine.
Let's go.
(suspenseful music)
(rain pouring)
(footsteps pattering)
- Looks like you might
get your proof after all.
- No offense, Charlie,
fuck you if you still
think I care about that.
- That's what I wanna hear.
(thunder rumbling)
- Damn.
(John sighs)
- That's it. The tracks just
stop.
- Christ.
- Farmhouse is that way.
(intense music)
(creature hissing)
(flesh tearing)
- Holy shit!
- John!
- Get to the farm!
- Sonny, Sonny, Sonny, no, come
on!
Come on!
(blood spurting)
(intense music)
(rain pouring)
(footsteps pattering)
(Max gasps)
(dirt pattering)
- Whoa, whoa, whoa, whoa,
whoa, whoa, whoa, whoa!
- We need to keep moving.
- No, Max is in there!
- We need to keep moving, we
don't know
- Cover me, cover me!
- where that thing is!
- Max!
- Charlie, we have to go.
- Max!
Max!
- Charlie, now!
- Oh, shit.
- Max, shit!
(suspenseful music)
(rain pattering)
(Max coughing)
(flash clicks)
- Charlie!
Sonn...
Son of a bitch. Charlie!
Shit.
(dirt pattering)
(Max grunting)
(body scrapes and thuds)
(Max panting)
(body scrapes and thuds)
(Max gasps)
(stones pattering)
Goddammit!
Oh!
(suspenseful music)
Motherfucker!
(bag rustling)
Are you fucking kidding me?
(bag unzips)
Mm. Please.
(items rustling)
C-C-Come on. Come on, come on,
please.
(items clattering)
Come on.
(Max panting)
All right.
Let's go. Let's go.
(dirt pattering)
Mm.
(Max grunting)
(body scraping)
Shit!
(intense music)
Fuck! (panting)
(Max spits)
You know what?
(gun scrapes)
All right.
(gun clacks)
Let's think about it.
All right, go this way.
(suspenseful music)
(bag rustling)
(footsteps pattering)
(rain pouring)
(Charlie panting)
(gun fires)
- Come on!
(puddles splashing)
Keep going, keep going.
(footsteps pattering)
(both panting)
Did you hit it?
- I'm doubtful.
I couldn't see shit.
So much for night vision.
- Now what?
- I don't know.
- Do you think Max is still
alive?
- I don't know, maybe.
- Shit, man, is there
anything you do know?
- Yeah, I know that if Max is
still alive,
we gotta figure out a way to
draw
that creature away from its den.
- How do we do that?
- We gotta go back in.
- Wait, wait. I think I have an
idea.
(suspenseful music)
(rain pouring)
Now,
(knife scrapes)
given this thing's nature,
it must primarily hunt by scent.
- Whoa, whoa, what the fuck?
(knife slicing)
(Sonny groans)
Sonny!
- (panting) The only way that
we can attract that thing
away from Max and towards us
is to give it some incentive,
like a fresh wound.
- Are you fucking crazy?
- Maybe, but if we can put this
scent
on some trees in one area,
I bet it'll come running.
- And if it doesn't?
- Then I'm an idiot and I'm
gonna need some stitches.
- All right.
Let's find a spot.
(Sonny groans)
(suspenseful music)
(Max breathes uneasily)
(water dripping)
- What the fuck? Oh, what the
fuck?
(gasps) Oh, Jesus.
(body parts squishing)
(Max whimpering)
(creature rustling)
(intense music)
Oh no.
(egg cracking)
(Max gasps)
(suspenseful music)
(egg cracking)
There's something moving.
Oh, fuck.
(creature rustling)
(footsteps thudding rapidly)
(creature snarls)
(body slams)
(Max groaning)
(intense music)
(blood dripping)
Oh! (gasps)
Fuck it.
(Max groaning and panting)
(rag squishing)
(rain pouring)
(thunder rumbling)
- That should do it.
(puddles splashing)
Den is downwind from
here so it smells this,
should lead him right down this
way.
- What if the rain washes the
scent away?
- It'll take a while.
(creature hissing)
(suspenseful music)
- Cover me.
(thunder rumbling)
Fresh wound.
(creature hisses and snarls)
(Sonny groans)
(creature hisses)
(flesh squelches and squishes)
(Sonny screaming)
(gun fires)
(bushes rustling)
Jesus, Sonny. Oh, Jesus.
We gotta get you outta here.
- No, go, go after it.
- No, man! You're hurt!
- Really, I think it
looks worse that it is.
- No, I think it looks pretty
fucking bad.
All right? We gotta get you
outta here.
I'll come back for Max.
- No.
No, it's wounded. You,
you can't lose it now.
I'll be okay.
(suspenseful music)
- All right, look at me.
(Sonny groaning)
You take this, all right?
That thing comes back around,
that has
a lot more stopping power.
Don't fucking die!
(Sonny breathes heavily)
You good?
- Yeah.
- All right.
- Yeah, go, go.
(Sonny groaning)
(suspenseful music)
(footsteps pattering)
(creature trilling)
Oh! (panting)
(intense music)
(creature biting)
(Max screaming)
(flesh ripping)
(creature trilling)
(blood spurting)
(flesh tearing)
(Max screaming)
(creature trilling)
(creature hissing and trilling)
(Max screaming)
(footsteps pattering rapidly)
(creature biting)
(flesh squelching)
(Max screaming)
(flesh tearing)
(blood spurting)
(bone stabbing)
(flesh squishing)
(intense music)
(Max gasping)
(gun clacks)
(creature hissing)
(gun fires)
(creature shrieking)
(creature gargling and wheezing)
(Max gasping and groaning)
(suspenseful music)
Oh fuck. (gasping)
Fuck!
(Max panting)
(Max groaning)
(flesh squishing)
(blood spurting)
Yuck. (groaning)
(flesh squishing)
Oh, Jesus! (gasping)
Oh, fuck.
(Max panting)
(shirt rustling)
(Max groaning)
(shirt rustling)
Uh!
- Max?
- Sonny?
(groaning) Fuck!
Sonny, I'm down here!
(suspenseful music)
(Max groaning)
(dirt pattering)
(Max panting and groaning)
(Max hobbling and groaning)
- Max?
- Sonny?
Holy shit.
- Max?
- Sonny, holy shit.
- Max.
- Where's Charlie?
- I, I don't know, he...
(suspenseful music)
(rain pouring)
I heard a scream. It might have
been him.
- What?
You gotta help me get outta here
man.
- Do you have any rope?
- Oh fuck.
I was gonna ask you the same
thing. Shit.
- Man, we gotta get outta here.
This, this thing could be back
any second.
- Yeah, I know. She's
not gonna be pleased.
- What?
- Nothing.
How am I gonna get outta here?
- I, I don't know.
- Fuck. Fuck.
(Max panting)
(suspenseful music)
Wait.
Wait.
Oh fuck. I have an idea.
Wait, I'll be back. Okay.
(thunder rumbling)
(Max hobbling and groaning)
Oh, for Christ sake.
Oh, Jesus.
(gun banging)
(flesh squishing)
(blood spurting)
(bones snapping)
(flesh slicing)
(wrist snaps)
(Max breathes uneasily)
Gross.
(Max hobbling and groaning)
(rain pattering)
Oh, shit.
Okay. Okay.
(claws thudding)
(dirt pattering)
(Max grunting and panting)
(claws thudding)
(dirt pattering)
(Max grunting and panting)
(claws thudding)
(Max grunting and panting)
- Hurry, Max.
- I'm doing the best I can.
(rain pouring)
- Do better.
(claw thuds)
(Max panting)
(Max grunting)
(gun fires)
(creature hissing)
(body slams)
(Sonny groaning)
(Max breathes uneasily)
(creature snarling and hissing)
(intense music)
(creature hissing)
(footsteps squishing)
(creature snarling and hissing)
(creature hissing and snarling)
(gun firing)
(creature shrieking)
(Max groaning)
(body slams)
(Max groaning)
(rain pouring)
(body scraping)
- Max?
Max? Max?
(dramatic music)
(hands clasp)
I got ya, buddy. I got ya.
(Max exhales)
(machinery beeping)
(footsteps tapping)
(Max groaning)
Well, well, well.
Nice of you to drop by.
- Shit.
(Charlie chuckles)
- How do you feel?
- Oh, you know, everything
hurts.
- Hmm. No doubt.
You gave me quite the scare.
- Oh, oh, wow.
(Max groans)
- You were covered in so much
blood,
I wasn't sure where your
injuries were.
- Jesus. Oh.
- You remember what happened?
- Oh, I remember you shot me.
- Well, just a little bit.
(Charlie laughing)
(Max coughing)
- Oh, God, don't make me laugh.
- Had a hell of a time
getting you out of there.
- (sighs) Right.
(Max sighs)
(Max gasps)
(suspenseful music)
Shit, Charlie, the cave!
We gotta go back or-
- Take it easy, Max.
- No, no. We gotta go back now!
- Dammit, Max, why on earth
would I wanna go back there?
- There are eggs!
- What?
- Eggs.
(intense music)
(suspenseful music)
(water dripping)
They could be anywhere by now?
- The creature's body's gone.
So how do we explain this?
- I don't see how we can.
Well, we can take the
eggshells to an expert
and hope we can get them to
believe us.
- You think they will?
- (chuckles) Did you?
- So what then?
- It's getting cold.
They'll be looking for place to
lay low
and stay warm through the
winter.
So if we're lucky, these things
won't come out again till next
spring,
but with this many,
it'll be worse.
- And if so?
- I'd grab every man, woman
and child that could hold a gun
and get ready for the carnage to
start.
(intense music)
- And where will you be?
(Max sighs)
- Home.
(intense music)
(eerie music)
(rain pattering)
(intense music)
(eerie music)
(distorted voice)
There's a monster in the
closet
A creature by the bed
Demons in the shadows
Someone's gonna get dead
Yeah
So run
(upbeat rock music)
You got to hide
It's not time for heroes
Mojo or ego
When blood is being spattered

The only thing that matters
is to make it out alive, yeah
These clues are just illusions

Or so the doctor said
The rain is soaked in terror
Someone's gonna get dead
So run
You got to hide
No time for heroes
Mojo or ego
When blood is being splattered

The only thing that matters
is to make it out alive, yeah
I know I saw something
It was raining like hell
There were holes in the earth

And I wanted to yell, help
I had no reception
No bars in my cell, damn
I couldn't run and I couldn't
hide
I was lost in the woods
And oh, God, oh, God, oh, God

The ungodly smell
So run
You got to hide
It's no time for heroes
Mojo or ego
When blood is being splattered

The only thing that matters
is to make it out alive, yeah
(distorted whispering)
Call the police