What Is The Being About?
The premise of The Being in 373 words, with nothing given away. The full story follows below.
In the rolling shadows of a sleepy Idaho town, the quiet rhythm of daily life is suddenly underscored by a secret that never should have been buried. Illegal toxic waste, dumped far from the eyes of the world, leaches into the soil and seeps into the air, turning the familiar landscape into a place where the ordinary feels faintly off‑kilter. The town’s close‑knit community, its modest storefronts and open‑wide skies, becomes the backdrop for an unease that grows louder with every passing day, setting a tone that blends rural charm with a creeping, almost palpable dread.
At the heart of this unease is a young boy, Michael Smith, whose accidental exposure to the contaminant triggers a transformation far beyond the bounds of nature. The mutation is not simply physical; it teeters on the edge of animal instinct and human vulnerability, hinting at a creature driven by a mixture of rage and radiation. The very existence of this being raises unsettling questions about the cost of hidden dangers and the fragile line between humanity and horror.
When the strange occurrences spiral out of control, Detective Mortimer Lutz, the town’s police chief, steps into the fray. He is a pragmatic lawman accustomed to the predictable, now forced to confront an anomaly that defies conventional investigation. To match the unknown, he is paired with Garson Jones, a government‑appointed chemical safety engineer whose expertise in hazardous materials makes him the perfect, if reluctant, ally. Their uneasy partnership is overseen by Mayor Gordon Lane, a leader whose priority is the town’s survival, and Marge Smith, a mother whose world is being upended. The dynamic between authority, science, and personal stakes fuels a tense, collaborative hunt for answers.
The film’s atmosphere is a taut blend of science‑fiction horror and small‑town drama, where every quiet street and dimly lit alley could hide the next clue. The looming threat of an unseen, radiation‑born terror forces the characters to wrestle not only with a physical menace but also with the moral weight of their decisions. It is a story that asks how far a community will go to protect itself when the very ground beneath its feet turns hostile, and whether courage and knowledge can outpace a nightmare born from human neglect.
What Happens in The Being?
The complete story of The Being, from the first scene to the last, in 384 words (about 2 minutes). Spoilers throughout. Names in the text link to 5 cast member pages.
Spoilers ahead
In the town of Pottsville, Idaho, residents begin to vanish, with young Michael Smith—the son of Marge Smith—the first to disappear. A decapitated escapee and three drive-in theater patrons are found murdered, and at each scene a slick green slime lingering in the outskirts of the tragedy points to something unnatural at work.
To uncover the truth without risking the town’s potato-based economy, Mayor Gordon Lane hires Garson Jones, a seasoned chemical safety engineer, to lead the investigation. At the same time, Detective Mortimer Lutz quietly pursues his own line of inquiry, convinced that something terrible has indeed taken hold of Pottsville.
As the disappearances mount, a recurring puddle of green slime is discovered at every new site. Lutz grows suspicious that Jones knows more than he’s admitting, a doubt that hardens after he is attacked by a monstrous presence in his own home and narrowly escapes.
One night, while escorting his waitress girlfriend Laurie home, Lutz and Laurie are suddenly assaulted by the same grotesque creature. They barricade themselves inside a diner and seal the place off in a freezer, then reach out to the mayor. When Mayor Gordon Lane arrives, the creature has vanished, leaving behind only the slime as evidence.
With tensions rising, Lutz presses Jones again, who finally acknowledges that a highly radioactive creature is responsible. He reveals that Pottsville sits atop one of 2,000 nuclear dump sites in the United States, and the mutant—believed to be Michael Smith—arose from repeated exposure to the site’s radioactive materials. The creature is depicted as intelligent yet psychotic, and it is vulnerable to light, becoming inactive during the day.
Armed with shotguns, Jones and Lutz track the creature to an abandoned warehouse, where the hungry mutant stalks them. Jones is fatally attacked and disemboweled, forcing Lutz to fight solo. Donning a gas mask, Lutz attempts to kill the beast with poison gas, but the creature seems unfazed by the fumes. A moment of opportunity comes when he hurls acid in its face, stunning the monster long enough for Lutz to seize an axe and finally kill it, ending the immediate threat.
The final image hints at a larger threat, as a new mutation bursts from the ground, leaving the town—perhaps the country—facing an ongoing nightmare that science and courage alone may not quell.
The Being Timeline: Every Key Event in Order
14 key events in the order they happen, from “Disappearances begin in Pottsville” to “A new mutation bursts from the ground”. 14 events name a place, across 11 locations.
- 1
Disappearances begin in Pottsville
In Pottsville, Idaho, residents begin to vanish one by one, spreading fear through the town. The first disappearance is Michael Smith, the son of Marge Smith, triggering concern among families. Town leaders worry about the impact on the local potato business and public image.
Where:Pottsville, Idaho
- 2
Drive-in murders and green slime
A young man is decapitated while fleeing an unseen attacker, signaling that a dangerous force is at work. Three patrons at a drive-in theater are brutally murdered, all leaving behind traces of green slime at the scenes. The trio of incidents ties the disappearances to a single, grotesque threat.
Where:Drive-in theater, Pottsville
- 3
Mayor hires investigator
Mayor Gordon Lane hires chemical safety engineer Garcon Jones to uncover the truth, fearing that publicity could ruin the town's reputation and its potato business. Detective Mortimer Lutz begins his own investigation alongside Jones. The town mobilizes behind a formal inquiry into the strange events.
Where:Pottsville town hall
- 4
More disappearances and slime
As more people disappear, a fresh puddle of green slime is found at each new site. Lutz grows suspicious that Jones knows more than he admits, while Jones maintains there is no danger. The momentum of the investigation deepens with each disturbing clue.
Where:Various sites around Pottsville
- 5
Lutz attacked at home
Lutz is attacked by something monstrous while at his home and narrowly escapes. The incident intensifies the sense that the threat is both intelligent and physically dangerous. The attack also puts the investigators on high alert and raises the stakes for their inquiry.
Where:Lutz's home
- 6
Confrontation between Lutz and Jones
Lutz confronts Jones about the home attack, but Jones denies any wrongdoing and claims there is nothing wrong in the area. The confrontation leaves both men entrenched in their own positions as evidence remains inconclusive. Tension between investigators grows as suspicions about a larger conspiracy deepen.
Where:Jones's office
- 7
Diner attack and freezer trap
That night, Lutz and his waitress girlfriend Laurie are attacked while driving home. They seek refuge in a diner and manage to lock the creature inside a freezer. They inform Mayor Lane of the attack, hoping someone will believe their story.
When:Night Where:Pottsville diner
- 8
Revelation: radioactive creature
Jones admits that a highly radioactive creature is responsible for the attacks. He explains that Pottsville lies atop a nuclear dump site and that the mutated entity—likely Michael Smith—has become intelligent, though psychotic, and is sensitive to light. The revelation reframes the entire mystery and explains why the threat has persisted.
Where:Pottsville
- 9
Pursuit to the abandoned warehouse
Armed with shotguns, Jones and Lutz track the creature to an abandoned warehouse. The hungry mutant stalks them inside as they close in on their target. The pursuit marks a turning point in the investigation, shifting from discovery to direct confrontation.
Where:Abandoned warehouse near Pottsville
- 10
Jones is killed by the creature
Inside the warehouse, the creature attacks and disembowels Jones, leaving Lutz to face the threat alone. The loss of their ally raises the stakes and underscores the creature's ferocity. Lutz steels himself for a final, dangerous stand.
Where:Abandoned warehouse
Show the other 4 events of The Being Hide the last 4 events
- 11
Gas attack and struggle
Lutz dons a gas mask and attempts to kill the creature with poison gas, but the monster is unfazed and tosses him around. The battle tests Lutz's ingenuity as he struggles to find a weakness. He continues to fight despite the overwhelming danger.
Where:Abandoned warehouse
- 12
Acid and final chance
Lutz discovers an opening and throws a beaker of acid into the creature's face, momentarily stunning it. Seizing the opportunity, he grasps a nearby axe and prepares for a decisive strike. The moment signals a potential breakthrough in the battle.
Where:Abandoned warehouse
- 13
The creature is killed
Lutz hacks the creature to death with the axe, ending the immediate terror over Pottsville. The town breathes a temporary sigh of relief, though the mutation theme hints at future dangers. The final confrontation marks the culmination of the investigation.
Where:Abandoned warehouse
- 14
A new mutation bursts from the ground
A new mutation is seen bursting from the ground, signaling that the threat may be ongoing beyond the creature's death. The ending leaves Pottsville with a sense of dread about what comes next. The mutation suggests that nuclear contamination has created persistent, evolving dangers.
Where:Outside Pottsville / near the warehouse
Who Are the Main Characters in The Being?
8 characters, among them Marge Smith (Dorothy Malone), Garson Jones (Martin Landau) and Mayor Gordon Lane (Jos Ferrer): who each one is and the part they play in the story. Every profile links to the actor’s page.
- MS
Marge Smith (Dorothy Malone)
Played by Dorothy Malone
Marge Smith is a devoted mother and town resident who is driven by the disappearance of her son. She embodies maternal resilience amid fear and uncertainty, pushing to uncover the truth even when local authorities hesitate. Her determination helps propel the investigation and frames the emotional stakes of the town’s ordeal.
- 🧭 Protective
- 👩👧 Motherly
- 🌾 Rural resilience
-
Garson Jones (Martin Landau)
Played by Martin Landau
Garson Jones is a chemical safety engineer hired to investigate the disappearances and potential hazards. He is methodical and knowledgeable, yet his secretive nature and the town’s fear suggest deeper stakes. He faces danger when attacked by the mutated creature, testing his resolve to uncover the truth. He collaborates with the detective to confront the threat.
- 🔬 Scientist
- 🧭 Rational
- ⚠️ Hazard
-
Mayor Gordon Lane (Jos Ferrer)
Played by José Ferrer
Mayor Gordon Lane is the town’s leader who fears publicity could harm the potato economy, so information is managed carefully. He weighs actions against public opinion, revealing a conflict between economic concerns and public safety. His decisions create tension with investigators and reveal the town’s fragility under threat.
- 🏛️ Mayor
- 💼 Politics
- 💰 Economy
- DM
Detective Mortimer Lutz (Bill Osco)
Played by Bill Osco
Detective Mortimer Lutz is a determined investigator who suspects there is more to the disappearances than meets the eye. He challenges Jones, confronts the creature, and uses unorthodox methods to fight it. He demonstrates resourcefulness, courage, and a willingness to risk himself to protect others.
- 🕵️ Detective
- 🔎 Investigation
- 🗡️ Action
- L(
Laurie (Marianne Gordon)
Played by Marianne Gordon
Laurie is Lutz’s waitress girlfriend who becomes a direct witness to the attacks. She displays resilience and practicality in the danger, contributing to the couple’s attempt to reach the authorities. Her relationship with Lutz humanizes the crisis and adds emotional stakes.
- 💑 Partner
- 🧭 Courage
- 🌃 Nightlife
- M(
Monster (Jerry Maren)
Played by Jerry Maren
The creature is a radioactive mutant with above-average intellect but psychotic tendencies. It is intelligent, cunning, and violently predatory, yet remains sensitive to light. The slime it leaves at each scene marks its presence and links the killings. Its terror drives the town’s desperation and the investigators’ resolve.
- 👹 Monster
- 🧬 Mutation
- 🌗 Light-sensitive
- JT
Joe the Lab Assistant (Richard Marcus)
Played by Richard Marcus
Joe the Lab Assistant accompanies Garson Jones, assisting with experiments and observations. He represents the scientific community’s involvement and the undercurrent of suspicion among investigators. He faces danger as the creature closes in and the truth becomes more perilous to uncover.
- 🔬 Assistant
- 🧭 Skeptic
- 🛡️ Courage
- GA
Girl at Drive-In Theater (Robin Stille)
Played by Robin Stille
One of the patrons at a drive-in theater becomes a brutal victim, underscoring the creature’s reach and the town’s sense of vulnerability. The incident leaves behind a green slime trace, confirming the monster’s involvement and escalating fear.
- 🎬 Drive-in
- 💀 Victim
Where and When Is The Being Set?
The Being is set in Pottsville, Idaho, drive-in theater, diner, abandoned warehouse, nuclear dump…. Here is why the place matters to the story.
When
The events occur in a contemporary late-20th-century American town, blending everyday small-town life with an undercurrent of technological risk. The presence of a nuclear waste site situates the threat in the era’s ongoing concerns about radiation and safety. The town’s routines—work, commerce, and social life—suddenly collide with an unfathomable mutation.
Where
Pottsville, Idaho, drive-in theater, diner, abandoned warehouse, nuclear dump site
The story unfolds in Pottsville, Idaho, a rural town known for its potato industry. Key locations include a retro drive-in theater, a modest diner, and an abandoned warehouse where the creature stalks its victims. A nearby nuclear dump site binds the mystery to a broader danger, as green slime and disappearances plague the community.
- ❄️ Rural
- 🥔 Potato economy
- 🌾 Agricultural town
- 🗺️ Small-town dynamics
What Are the Themes of The Being?
3 ideas the story keeps returning to, among them Mutation, Politics and Cover-up and Investigation and Survival.
-
01
Mutation
A key driving force is the mutation of a town resident into a destructive creature after exposure to radioactive waste. The film ties this transformation to the nearby nuclear dump site, signaling how technological hazards can spawn unpredictable dangers. The monster’s intelligence contrasts with its psychotic hunger, creating a tense, unpredictable threat. The slime and signs of mutation recur at each crime scene, linking disparate events.
-
02
Politics and Cover-up
Local leaders fear publicity that could damage the town’s potato business, so information is kept under wraps. The mayor’s decisions and the lab’s findings clash, hinting at a cover-up to protect the economy. The investigation is hindered by mistrust between officials and scientists. The tension between public safety and profit drives the conflict.
-
03
Investigation and Survival
Two investigators—an engineer and a detective—team up to trace the disappearances and monster attacks. They race against time to identify the cause, confront the mutated creature, and prevent further casualties. The narrative leans on procedural discovery, close-quarters horror, and strategic use of protective gear. Survival comes from constant vigilance and decisive action, culminating in a deadly confrontation.
What Kind of Film Is The Being?
Dark in tone, with steady pacing and a straightforward story, going by the plot summary.
- Tone
- Dark
- Pacing
- Steady
- Story
- Straightforward
- Intensity
- High
- Ending
- Bleak
A gritty and nightmarish horror experience marked by steady suspense, gruesome violence, and a pervasive sense of dread as a small town is stalked by a mutant born from toxic secrets.
- anxious
- gritty
- paranoid
- oppressive
- survival horror
- nightmarish
- monster
- toxic waste
- small town
- mutation
Content notes: decapitation, disfigurement, gore, dismemberment.
Quiz
How well do you remember The Being? Test yourself on the story.
Where to Watch The Being
Stream it on Amazon MX Player and Amazon Prime Video, or rent or buy it from Amazon Video. US availability and prices from JustWatch.
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