Dogs

Several cows belonging to Larry Ludecky are found dead, raising alarm in the town. Harlan suspects coyotes but rules that out after examination, hinting at a much larger threat. The incident sets the stage for a creeping danger that will soon spill over to humans.

Larry ignores warnings and confronts the threat at night, hoping to protect his cattle. He is killed by a pack of dogs soon after, confirming the danger is real. His death marks the predators' expansion from livestock to people.

Shortly after Larry's death, a pack of dogs kills an SU student and an elderly lady. The community realizes the threat is escalating quickly. Harlan and Michael begin to link the attacks to organized dog packs and a possible broader cause.

Harlan and Michael hypothesize that pheromones cause animals to unite into packs. They suspect a government experiment at a nearby linear accelerator is releasing the trigger. They warn SU president Dr. Koppelman, who refuses to issue a warning and threatens to fire them.

A local kindergarten dog show ends with the dogs packing and attacking attendees. The incident makes the danger undeniable to residents and spurs a posse to hunt the dogs. Sheriff Jimmy Goodman reluctantly joins the effort after initial hesitation.

Harlan and Michael attempt a pheromone experiment by trapping a dog in a plastic enclosure. The dog breaks free as a nearby pack closes in, triggering a violent clash with the hunting party. Jimmy Goodman fights the attack but is gravely injured and dies before reaching his car.

Dr. Charles Aintry brings fellow professor Charlotte Ingle home after a date. He senses that she does not want to see him anymore and she hints she is not interested. The scene foreshadows danger encroaching on the campus.

While taking a shower, Charlotte Ingle is killed by a dog, underscoring how quickly the danger spreads. Harlan and Michael's investigation grows more urgent as the threat reaches the faculty. The personal toll on the university community deepens.

Harlan and Michael arrive at the police station and find a man dead. They try to contact Jimmy but get no response. They pass Koppelman’s house and see him attacked by a dog; Michael shoots the dog but accidentally kills Koppelman, and Harlan kills the dog. They later discover Mrs. Koppelman dead in the swimming pool.

Harlan arrives at Caroline's house to warn her to evacuate. The howling of dogs echoes in the distance as Caroline's own dog trembles with fear. The sense of danger tightens as the night wears on.

Michael gathers students in the dorm lobby and explains the dog attacks and the plan to walk to the library. He says the campus will be evacuated in the morning, but the students reluctantly agree to follow his instructions for now. He directs Cory and others to help warn their peers and manage the crowd.

Cory explains that Howard Kaplan is hungry and in the cafeteria when dogs appear. Howard feeds them milk and rolls to distract the pack, and Michael arrives to control the situation. Out of bullets, Michael fends off a dog by striking it with a rifle as Howard escapes.

The students head to the library, believing they are safer there. The pack follows and breaches the library, leaving two students dead and many others fighting for survival. Howard is killed in the chaos as the dogs overwhelm the building.

Harlan and Caroline flee in a car, pursued by the remaining dogs. They discover three dead bodies, including Michael, and hear a radio report about similar attacks elsewhere. As they drive away, a cat's threatening sound suggests that danger may persist beyond the town.