Beast from Haunted Cave 1959
Directed by
Chris Robinson
Made by
Gene Corman Productions
Beast from Haunted Cave Plot Summary
Read the complete plot summary and ending explained for Beast from Haunted Cave (1959). From turning points to emotional moments, uncover what really happened and why it matters.
A group of criminals led by Alexander Ward hatches a plan to steal gold bars from a bank vault in Deadwood, South Dakota. Ward sends one of his henchmen, Marty Jones, to plant a time bomb in a nearby gold mine. The detonation will occur the next morning and act as a diversion for their heist. Although Marty, accompanied by local barmaid Natalie, succeeds in setting the device, he encounters a huge, hairy beast. It captures Natalie, but Marty escapes. It is later revealed that the beast survives off of the blood of his captives, who eventually experience a slow death. Natalie is only the latest of its many victims.
The next morning, the explosive goes off as planned, and Alex and his gang succeed in stealing gold bars from the bank’s vault. Then, led by a local guide named Gil Jackson, they make the trek to a remote cabin, where they hope to be picked up by a plane bound for Canada. Gil is initially unaware of their plans, but he becomes suspicious when he hears reports of the robbery on the radio and then discovers his clients are toting handguns. They reach the cabin without incident but, once there, a violent snowstorm delays the plane’s arrival. Gypsy Boulet is taken with the young Gil and tells him that Alex plans to kill him once the plane arrives. Thus, Gil and Gypsy split for town.
Marty carries unpleasant memories of the beast. He perpetually senses someone (or something) is watching him. Thus when he reports encountering the beast again, his companions suspect he’s becoming delusional. Eventually, however, they are convinced of the beast’s existence when they see it attack Byron Smith. Despite their fear of further attacks, the gang attempt to track down Gil and Gypsy before they reach town. But with the snowstorm approaching, they head for a nearby cave. The weather also forces Gil and Gypsy to take shelter in the same cave. That shelter turns out to be the lair of the beast. In the final struggle, the beast kills the remaining gang members; but before dying, Marty shoots it with a flare gun. Gil and Gypsy are left to watch as the monster burns to death.
Beast from Haunted Cave Timeline
Follow the complete movie timeline of Beast from Haunted Cave (1959) with every major event in chronological order. Great for understanding complex plots and story progression.
Ward's plan and the diversion
Alexander Ward orchestrates a bank heist by stealing gold bars from Deadwood. He assigns Marty Jones to plant a time bomb in a nearby gold mine to create a diversion for the operation. The crew sets up the plan and awaits execution.
Marty and Natalie plant the device
Marty, accompanied by local barmaid Natalie, places the explosive at the mine. They succeed in setting the device, but Marty encounters a huge, hairy beast. The beast captures Natalie, forcing Marty to escape.
Beast’s predatory pattern revealed
The beast survives by feeding on captives, making Natalie the latest victim. The gang only later realizes a killer creature is at work when others begin to disappear. The threat remains unseen for now.
The heist goes off at dawn
The explosive goes off as planned and Ward's gang breaches the bank vault to steal the gold bars. They escape with the loot, relying on the diversion to keep pursuers away. The bank job marks the success of the plan.
Escape to a remote cabin
Led by Gil Jackson, the gang travels toward a remote cabin, hoping to be picked up by a plane bound for Canada. Gil is initially unaware of their plan, but radio reports of the robbery begin to raise suspicions.
Gil suspects something’s wrong
As the group proceeds, Gil hears news reports about the robbery and notices the weapons. His instincts tell him something is off, stirring distrust within the group. The suspicion sets the stage for tense decisions.
Gypsy reveals the killer plan
Gypsy informs Gil that Alex intends to kill him when the plane arrives. With that threat, Gil and Gypsy decide to split for town to avoid the trap. The remainder prepare for the dangerous journey ahead.
Marty's memory and the beast's attack
Marty’s uneasy memories hint at the beast’s presence, complicating group dynamics. The tension spikes when the beast attacks Byron, proving its existence and increasing fear among the crew.
The chase leads to a cave
Despite fear, the gang attempts to track Gil and Gypsy before they reach town. With a looming snowstorm, they head toward a nearby cave for shelter, inadvertently steering into the beast’s territory.
Cave reveals the beast’s lair
Gil and Gypsy seek shelter in the same cave, which turns out to be the monster’s lair. The beast’s presence becomes undeniable as everyone realizes the danger they’re in.
Final battle in the cave
The beast kills the remaining gang members in the cave. Marty fires a flare gun at the creature, but the fight leaves everyone battered. The creature is ultimately driven to death by the flare and fire.
Survivors witness the beast’s demise
As the beast burns, Gil and Gypsy survive the ordeal and watch it die. The gang’s violence concludes with the monster’s flaming end and the two survivors left in the cave.
Aftermath and memory
Marty remains haunted by memories of the beast and the fear it caused. The survivors must reckon with the consequences of their crimes and the trauma of the night's events.
Beast from Haunted Cave Characters
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Alexander Ward (Frank Wolff)
Ruthless group leader who hatches the bank robbery and orchestrates the escape, ignoring danger and expendability of his men. He remains calm under pressure, using others to shield his own plans and aiming for a Canada-bound getaway. His obsession with wealth ultimately blinds him to the Beast and the mounting consequences.
Byron Smith (Wally Campo)
One of Ward's henchmen who is part of the plan and the pursuit of the fugitives. He meets a brutal end when attacked by the Beast, illustrating the peril that awaits even loyal lieutenants. His fate underscores the film's grim consequences for crime.
The Beast (Chris Robinson)
A large, bloodthirsty creature that stalks the group, feeding on victims as a slow, inevitable killer. It serves as a fearsome force that transforms the criminals' plan into a deadly game of survival. Its demise comes only after a dramatic confrontation and a flare gun.
Jill Jackson (Jaclyn Hellman)
An uncredited minor character who appears during the events, with little development in the summary. Her presence hints at the film’s broader ensemble but remains largely in the background.
Gil Jackson (Michael Forest)
A local guide who is drawn into Ward's scheme, becomes suspicious after hearing the robbery reports, and reluctantly carries the criminals toward a cabin. He ultimately sides with caution, helping lead the pursuit toward safety and survival.
Marty Jones (Richard Sinatra)
Ward's henchman who feels haunted by the Beast and emphasizes the film's tension between human malice and monstrous threat. His memories and fear escalate as the group travels and encounters the Beast. He plays a crucial role in the final confrontation.
Gypsy Boulet (Sheila Noonan)
Ward's associate referred to as his 'secretary,' who gets involved with Gil and warns him about Ward's plan to kill him. Her alliance with Gil splits the group and adds a layer of personal tension to the heist.
Natalie (Linné Ahlstrand)
A local barmaid who accompanies Marty to plant the time bomb. She becomes entangled in the gang's plot and, like the others, falls victim to the Beast's predation, highlighting the cost of the criminals' plan.
Small Dove (Kay Jennings)
A minor character listed in the cast, appearing in the background of the story without major development in the summary. Her presence contributes to the film's ensemble feel.
Woman Sitting at Table (Kinta Zertuche)
Another minor, uncredited role, seen in scenes that establish the setting but not central to the plot in the provided summary.
Beast from Haunted Cave Settings
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Location
Deadwood, South Dakota, remote mountain cabin, cave
A frontier town in Deadwood, South Dakota serves as the film's hub, with a nearby snowy wilderness where a gold mine, a remote cabin, and a dark cave figure into the escape plan. The harsh winter creates a claustrophobic backdrop as the criminals hide from authorities and the Beast. The landscape alternates between the small-town bar and the remote, treacherous terrain, highlighting isolation and danger.
Beast from Haunted Cave Themes
Discover the main themes in Beast from Haunted Cave (1959). Analyze the deeper meanings, emotional layers, and social commentary behind the film.
💰
Greed
A criminal scheme built on gold and money drives the plot, pushing characters to betray and risk their lives. Ward's leadership and the crew's ambitions show how wealth corrupts judgment and loyalty. The ensuing violence and the Beast's appearance reveal the deadly cost of chasing profit.
❄️
Isolation
Snow and remote locations force the characters into close quarters with little escape. A snowstorm strands the group at a cabin and pushes them toward a cave where the Beast lies in wait. The wintry setting amplifies paranoia and desperation as rescue becomes uncertain.
👁️
Paranoia
Marty's misgivings about being watched hint at a mental toll from the Beast and the pressure of the heist. Trust frays as the line between human danger and the monster's threat blurs. The crew's fear leads to rash decisions and a fatal hunt for the truth.
Beast from Haunted Cave Spoiler-Free Summary
Discover the spoiler-free summary of Beast from Haunted Cave (1959). Get a concise overview without any spoilers.
In the frozen wilds of the Black Ridge mountains, a handful of teenage girls find themselves lost within a twisting, nightmarish maze where every shadow seems to pulse with menace. The oppressive darkness is pierced only by the distant echoes of their own panic, and a blood‑starved ghoul from Hell stalks the corridors, its presence turning the labyrinth into a living nightmare. The girls’ fragile camaraderie is tested as they scramble for an escape that feels ever more impossible, their every breath a reminder that the cold is not the only thing that can kill.
Meanwhile, a gold‑prospecting thief named Alexander Ward arrives with his small crew seeking refuge from the howling storm in a remote skier’s lodge perched on the edge of the same bleak landscape. With him are Marty Jones, a weather‑hardened drifter, and Natalie, a barmaid whose quick wit masks a deeper unease. The group is soon joined by Gil Jackson, a local guide whose knowledge of the terrain is as sharp as his instincts, and Gypsy Boulet, a wanderer whose curiosity borders on recklessness. The lodge, initially a sanctuary from the blizzard, reveals itself to be infested with a massive, cobweb‑covered monster that lurks in the shadows, turning the safe haven into a claustrophobic hunting ground.
The film weaves these two strands together, letting the isolated terror of the maze echo the suffocating dread inside the lodge. A relentless, cold atmosphere blankets every scene, amplifying the characters’ desperation and the ever‑present sense that something ancient and hungry watches from the darkness. As the snow piles higher and the wind moans through the pine‑laden valleys, the intersecting paths of the girls and the thieves promise a collision of fear that will test each survivor’s resolve long before any light can break through the gloom.
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