What Is The Beast About?
The premise of The Beast in 318 words, with nothing given away. The full story follows below.
In the mist‑shrouded harbor of Graves Point, the promise of safe water becomes a uneasy refrain. A routine warning about the town’s supply turns into a silent alarm, and the quiet seaside community begins to feel the weight of something vast and unseen stirring beneath the waves. An odd, oversized claw washes ashore on an empty raft, hinting at a creature far beyond ordinary marine life and setting the town’s sleepy rhythm against a backdrop of mounting unease.
Whip Dalton is the town’s weather‑worn fisherman, a man whose knowledge of the water runs as deep as the tide itself. Across the docks, Dr. Herbert Talley arrives with his research crew, bringing scientific rigor and a thirst for answers to the mystery that has surfaced. The local authority, Harbor master Schuyler Graves, balances the practical concerns of commerce with the growing panic among residents, while Lucas Coven—a seasoned hunter hired to confront the unknown—brings a pragmatic, hands‑on approach that clashes with the more measured perspectives. Business owner Manning watches the developments with a calculating eye, and Lieutenant Kathryn Marcus of the Coast Guard adds an official layer of responsibility to the unfolding situation.
The atmosphere in Graves Point is a mix of tight‑knit community spirit and a creeping dread that the sea may be concealing something ancient and powerful. Conversations in smoky taverns turn from fishing reports to speculative whispers about the claw and the creature that might have left it. Scientific curiosity meets local folklore, and the town’s leadership struggles to maintain order while the ocean’s depths hint at a larger, incomprehensible presence.
Amid the salty air and the rhythmic pull of the tide, the residents of Graves Point find themselves poised at the edge of discovery and fear. Their differing motives—survival, knowledge, profit, duty—intertwine, promising an uneasy alliance as they stare into the dark water that now seems both a source of life and a looming threat.
What Happens in The Beast?
The complete story of The Beast, from the first scene to the last, in 577 words (about 3 minutes). Spoilers throughout.
Spoilers ahead
On a yacht off the Pacific Northwest coast near Grave’s Point, Howard Griffin and Elizabeth Griffin share a quiet, romantic night that turns suddenly deadly when a freak failure sinks the vessel. Stranded in a lifeboat, the couple is attacked and eaten by an unseen predator, leaving the harbor and its residents to grapple with what just happened.
The following day, local fisherman Whip Dalton [William Petersen] and first mate Mike Newcombe [Sterling Macer Jr.] discover the empty lifeboat, a large claw still clinging to it, and bring the evidence to light. Whip sends the claw to a university for analysis, where marine biologist Dr. Herbert Talley [Ronald Guttman] and his assistant Christopher Lane [Murray Bartlett] determine the markings point to the tentacle of a giant squid. Their foreboding assessment sets off a cascade of fear across Grave’s Point as more deaths occur.
Harbor master Schuyler Graves [Charles Martin Smith] and his assistant hire Lucas Coven [Larry Drake] to hunt the squid, despite Whip’s caution to leave it alone. The town rallies around the hunt, and the crew manages to kill a squid, its carcass quickly sold to Sea Land Texas owner Manning. The harbor briefly celebrates, but the discovery of a sonar signal signaling a much larger creature reveals that danger is far from over.
Whip and Talley are denied access to the initial carcass, so Talley organizes a submersible expedition to study the squid’s habitat. Their analyses reveal that the captured specimen is only a 37-foot, 2,000-pound baby, yet the mother, a far larger 66-foot, 3,000-pound predator, is now driven by vengeance rather than hunger. The mother’s attack on the expedition results in the deaths of Jamison and Christopher, escalating the stakes and angering the town.
Whip blames Graves for the tragedy, and Graves responds by using blackmail to force Lucas to resume the hunt. Talley makes it clear that the mother squid is seeking vengeance for her offspring, a detail that deepens the peril as fear transforms into a relentless mission.
Lucas returns to the water with Mike and Scranton, battling stormy weather as they press the hunt. A brutal sequence follows: Scranton is devoured, Mike is injured, and Lucas drowns. Whip arrives just in time to pull Mike from the sea and rush him to the hospital. After learning that the squid came ashore, Whip agrees to track it down again, insisting he must use his own boat, with Graves at his side. They are joined by Talley, Manning, and coast guard officer Lt. Kathryn Marcus [Karen Sillas].
The team devises a plan to snare the squid, reel it in, and inject it with cyanide darts. The trap appears to work and the squid seems dead, but Manning’s treacherous twist—having loaded the darts with tranquilizer to keep the creature alive for a profit—allows the monster to awaken. Graves attempts to escape on a lifeboat as Whip severs the trap, and the enraged predator bites loose and begins its ferocious comeback.
The creature kills Graves, then returns to attack Whip’s vessel, taking Manning and grabbing Talley along the way. A Coast Guard helicopter swoops in to rescue Kathryn and Whip. In a desperate final gambit, Whip uses an axe to breach fuel drums and a flare gun to set his boat ablaze, forcing the squid into the fiery trap. The boat explodes, destroying the predator, and the helicopter ferries Whip and Kathryn back to shore, where they reunite with Whip’s daughter Dana [Missy Crider].
The Beast Timeline: Every Key Event in Order
15 key events in the order they happen, from “Romantic yacht night ends in disaster” to “Return to shore and reunion”. 15 events name a place, across 12 locations.
- 1
Romantic yacht night ends in disaster
Howard and Elizabeth Griffin share a romantic night aboard a yacht near Grave's Point. A freak accident sinks the vessel, forcing them into a lifeboat. Hours later, they are attacked and eaten by an unseen creature.
When:Night Where:Grave's Point, Pacific Northwest
- 2
Lifeboat found with a claw
Whip Dalton and his first mate Mike Newcombe discover the empty lifeboat with a large claw still attached. They send the claw to a university for analysis. This clue marks the first physical link to the predator stalking Grave's Point.
When:Day 1 morning Where:Grave's Point harbor
- 3
Scientists connect claw to giant squid
Marine biologist Dr. Herbert Talley and assistant Christopher Lane receive the claw and travel to Grave's Point to investigate. They contend it comes from the tentacle of a giant squid. Their discovery launches a scientific chase rather than an immediate hunt.
When:Day 1 Where:Grave's Point / university lab
- 4
Squid attacks continue; hunters hired
The squid's attacks kill more around Grave's Point, prompting authorities to act. Local leaders decide to remove the threat despite the dangers. Harbour master Schuyler Graves and Jamison hire Lucas Coven to hunt the squid, ignoring warnings to leave it alone.
When:Day 2 Where:Grave's Point
- 5
Coven kills a squid; carcass sold
Lucas Coven succeeds in killing a squid and the carcass is sold to Sea Land Texas owner Osborne Manning. Graves and the others celebrate what they believe is a victory, thinking the danger has been contained. The threat, however, remains offshore.
When:Day 2 Where:Grave's Point harbor / Sea
- 6
A larger squid is detected offshore
Unmanned sonar detects a second, much larger squid offshore, but the islanders remain unaware of the impending danger. The detection hints at a far more dangerous predator looming beyond sight. The stage is set for a deadlier encounter.
When:Day 3 Where:Offshore near Grave's Point
- 7
Submersible mission planned
With access denied to the live squid, Talley arranges a submersible expedition to study its habitat. The team dives to observe the creature in its environment, hoping to learn its behavior. The mission marks a shift from hunting to scientific observation.
When:Day 4 Where:Underwater habitat near Grave's Point
- 8
Baby squid revealed; mother attacks
Scientists analyze the dead squid carcass and determine it is a three-month-old baby about 37 feet long. The mother squid then attacks the submersible, killing Jamison and Christopher. The revelation that the mother's vengeance drives the attacks raises the stakes.
When:Day 4 Where:Underwater habitat near Grave's Point
- 9
Graves clamps down on Lucas; hunt resumes
Whip blames Graves for the mounting deaths and the cover-up. Graves uses blackmail to force Lucas Coven to resume the hunt for the adult squid, despite the warning that the creature acts out of vengeance. Lucas reluctantly agrees to continue.
When:Day 5 Where:Grave's Point
- 10
Stormy hunt leads to deaths
Lucas, Mike, and Scranton resume the hunt, braving a storm. The squid attacks their boat, devouring Scranton and drowning Lucas. Whip and Mike survive, the danger intensifying as the predator remains at large.
When:Day 6 Where:Sea near Grave's Point
Show the other 5 events of The Beast Hide the last 5 events
- 11
Whip assembles a rescue team
Whip agrees to track the squid again, insisting on using his own boat. He is joined by Graves, Talley, Manning, and Coast Guard Lt. Kathryn Marcus. They draft a plan to snare the creature, reel it in, and shoot it with cyanide darts.
When:Day 7 Where:Grave's Point / onboard boats
- 12
Manning's deception and the awakening squid
Manning admits he loaded the darts with tranquilizer to capture the squid alive for Sea Land. Graves tries to escape on a lifeboat as Whip releases the squid just as it wakes. The predator resumes its attack, turning the plan into a fatal crisis.
When:Night Where:On Whip's boat
- 13
Graves, Manning, and Talley fall to the predator
The squid kills Graves, then attacks Whip's boat, killing Manning and grabbing Talley before a Coast Guard helicopter arrives to extract Kathryn and Whip. The crew fights for survival as the threat closes in.
When:Minutes before rescue Where:Sea near Grave's Point
- 14
Explosive finale and the squid's death
Whip uses fuel drums and a flare gun to set his boat on fire, trapping the squid and preventing escape. The Coast Guard helicopter arrives to lift Kathryn and Whip to safety, and the creature is killed by the explosion.
When:Evening Where:Sea near Grave's Point / Offshore
- 15
Return to shore and reunion
Whip and Kathryn are flown back to shore and reunite with Whip's daughter Dana. The island settles into a fragile calm as survivors begin to recover and rebuild after the harrowing ordeal.
When:After rescue Where:Grave's Point shore
Who Are the Main Characters in The Beast?
7 characters, among them Schuyler Graves (Charles Martin Smith), Whip Dalton (William Petersen) and Dr. Herbert Talley (Ronald Guttman): who each one is and the part they play in the story. Every profile links to the actor’s page.
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Schuyler Graves (Charles Martin Smith)
Played by Charles Martin Smith
Harbor master and local power broker who orders the search for the squid after being threatened by Lucas Coven. He balances town politics, his own ambitions, and the community’s safety, often reshaping plans to protect or profit from the crisis. His decisions pull others into danger and ultimately lead to a fatal confrontation with the predator.
- ⚓ Harbor master
- 💰 Opportunistic
- 🧭 Leader
-
Whip Dalton (William Petersen)
Played by William Petersen
Seasoned harbor boat captain and a protective father figure. He clashes with Graves over the best way to handle the squid threat and fights to keep his boat and crew safe. He ultimately acts decisively to stop the creature, even at personal risk.
- 🚤 Boat captain
- 👨👧 Father
- 🛡️ Protector
-
Dr. Herbert Talley (Ronald Guttman)
Played by Ronald Guttman
Marine biologist who believes in studying the squid to understand and mitigate the threat. He supports the submersible dive and data collection, often arguing for science over expedience. He becomes a steady voice for knowledge in the face of rising danger.
- 🔬 Scientist
- 📚 Knowledge seeker
- ⚠️ Risk-aware
- LK
Lt. Kathryn Marcus (Karen Sillas)
Played by Karen Sillas
Coast guard officer and pragmatic ally to Whip; assists in the plan to hunt and survive; she helps coordinate rescue efforts and shares a cool-headed approach under pressure.
- 🛟 Coast guard
- 👮♀️ Officer
- LC
Lucas Coven (Larry Drake)
Played by Larry Drake
Local hunter hired to kill the squid; cunning, ambitious, and willing to bend rules to secure success. He relies on manipulation and risk-taking, ultimately becoming a casualty of the creature he helped unleash.
- 🎯 Hunter
- 💼 Ambition
-
Mike Newcombe (Sterling Macer Jr)
Played by Sterling Macer Jr.
Whip's loyal first mate and a sturdy fisherman who joins the hunt. He endures the dangers at sea and contributes to the crew’s efforts to survive the escalating threat.
- 🧭 First mate
- 🤝 Loyal partner
- DD
Dana Dalton (Missy Crider)
Played by Missy Crider
Whip's daughter, a symbol of family ties anchoring the town through the crisis. She remains a quieter presence during the hunt but appears in the aftermath, emphasizing personal stakes for the protagonist.
- 👧 Daughter
- 🏡 Family ties
Where and When Is The Beast Set?
The Beast is set in Grave's Point and Pacific Northwest (Late 20th century). Here is why the time and place matter to the story.
When
Late 20th century
Set in a contemporary coastal community, the action unfolds with late-20th‑century technology: a yacht, a submersible, and university laboratories. The town relies on boats and coastal infrastructure to respond to the crisis. The period reflects modern concerns about scientific exploration and the dangers of disturbing natural ecosystems.
Where
Grave's Point, Pacific Northwest
Grave's Point is a small Pacific Northwest coastal resort community built around a working harbor. It relies on fishing and maritime activity, with docks, boats, and a close-knit local population. The events take place around the harbor, yacht, and shoreline as an unseen creature stalks the town.
- 🌊 Coastal
- 🐙 Giant creature
- ⚓ Harbor town
What Are the Themes of The Beast?
3 ideas the story keeps returning to, among them Man vs Nature, Greed and Science vs Risk.
-
01
Man vs Nature
An enormous squid becomes an unstoppable force challenging the town's sense of control. The creature's persistence pushes characters to their physical and moral limits, forcing split-second decisions under life-and-death pressure. The conflict explores humankind's hubris in attempting to master a mysterious underwater world. As the threat escalates, nature asserts itself as an overpowering, intelligent rival.
-
02
Greed
Profit motives surface after the first squid carcass is found, driving decisions that overlook safety. Graves sells the carcass to Sea Land Texas, illustrating how money can override caution and public welfare. Manning's plan to capture a living specimen exposes the dangers of treating a predator as a commodity. The pursuit of wealth intensifies risk and costs lives.
-
03
Science vs Risk
Talley and Lane pursue scientific study to understand and mitigate the threat, embodying curiosity over caution. Their submersible expedition demonstrates the lure—and danger—of pushing research into unknown depths. The story highlights the gap between scientific ambition and the practical risks of deep-sea life. It critiques rushing experimentation without proper safeguards.
What Kind of Film Is The Beast?
Tense in tone, with fast pacing and a straightforward story, going by the plot summary.
- Tone
- Tense
- Pacing
- Fast
- Story
- Straightforward
- Intensity
- High
- Ending
- Happy
A relentless and tension-filled creature feature that delivers a fast-paced, stressful experience as a vengeful giant squid terrorizes a coastal town, leading to multiple gruesome deaths and desperate survival attempts.
- tense
- suspenseful
- anxious
- claustrophobic
- deadly
- desperate
- monster horror
- survival
- scientific hubris
- vengeance
Content notes: animal death, graphic deaths, blood.
