Graveyard Shift

The story begins with a late-shift worker laboring in the dimly lit basement of a textile factory. As he feeds bales of cotton into an industrial machine, the oppressive heat frustrates him, leading to an impulsive action that changes everything.

Frustrated by the sweltering conditions, the worker slams his fist against a support beam, driving a rusty nail into his hand. He takes a moment to treat his injury, but as he tries to find solace during his break, he notices a gathering of rats watching him.

Driven by a mix of anger and bravado, the worker begins to taunt the rats, demonstrating his disregard for their presence. In a moment of cruelty, he throws one into the industrial machine, leading to a gruesome scene that marks the beginning of his downfall.

As the worker mocks the rodents, he is caught off-guard by a looming shadow and stumbles backward into the machine. The eerie fate of being consumed by the very rats he taunted marks a dark turning point in the story.

The next day, an exterminator goes to the roof of the industrial building to combat the rising rat issue. He prepares to eliminate the infestation with a fire hose; this sets the stage for the larger battle against the rodents.

A drifter named John Hall arrives in town looking for employment and applies at the local textile factory. He reluctantly gets hired after foreman Warwick disparages his background, agreeing to work during the challenging graveyard shift.

Foreman Warwick faces troubles with a building inspector threatening to shut down operations due to the rat problem. He resorts to bribery, offering $200 to the inspector to postpone his report, illustrating the lengths management will go to conceal the issue.

With the inspector’s report lingering, Warwick sends workers to the basement to prepare for the cleanup. However, one by one, they disappear, falling prey to an unknown creature lurking in the dark, with the rat infestation signaling their doom.

As the Fourth of July approaches, Warwick informs his employees that the factory will close for the holiday. Non-union workers face a layoff unless they agree to assist with the cleanup, setting the stage for a dangerous mission.

During the cleanup effort, John discovers a trap door leading deeper into the factory's underbelly. Along with the other workers, they venture down, triggering a chaotic series of events that sees them trapped and hunted.

As the monster begins to pick them off one by one, panic sets in among the group of trapped workers. The mounting tension creates an atmosphere of fear and desperation as they try to survive the onslaught.

In the midst of their battle for survival, Warwick’s fear of losing control culminates in a confrontation with the creature. His desperate attempts to maintain his leadership lead to his own tragic demise, leaving John to face the monster alone.

In a dramatic confrontation, John faces off against the monstrous bat that has terrorized them. Utilizing the industrial machine, he turns it against the creature in a fierce battle that culminates in a grisly outcome.

After the climactic battle, John manages to escape the nightmare that has plagued him and his coworkers. Breathing a sigh of relief, he reflects on the ordeal and the horrors he faced during the night.

The film concludes with the factory operating under new management, suggesting a mysterious continuity despite the horrors that occurred. The chilling implication of past events lingers, providing an unsettling close to the story.