Moonstalker

Moonstalker

Year: 1988

Runtime: 90 mins

Language: English

Director: Leslie McCarthy

Horror

A New York reporter investigates disappearances in an English village, where she must overcome their distrust while dealing with a evil force.

Warning: spoilers below!

Haven’t seen Moonstalker yet? This summary contains major spoilers. Bookmark the page, watch the movie, and come back for the full breakdown. If you're ready, scroll on and relive the story!

Timeline – Moonstalker (1988)

Trace every key event in Moonstalker (1988) with our detailed, chronological timeline. Perfect for unpacking nonlinear stories, spotting hidden connections, and understanding how each scene builds toward the film’s climax. Whether you're revisiting or decoding for the first time, this timeline gives you the full picture.

1

Pop arrives and joins the family camp

Denton 'Pop' Bromley arrives with a trailer during a wintry night and is invited to stay with Harry, Vera, Mikey, and Tracy. He shares a tale about how he raised his son Bernie, hinting at a troubling past. The family welcomes the stranger, setting the stage for a deadly secret.

evening rural campsite outside Reno, Nevada
2

Pop reveals Bernie is alive in the trailer

Pop claims Bernie died in an institution, but the truth is more chilling: Bernie is alive, kept in a straitjacket in Pop's trailer. Pop says he only lets Bernie loose occasionally to stalk wealthy visitors, murder them, and steal their valuables. The seeds of terror are planted as the night wears on.

night Pop's trailer
3

Bernie is loose; first murders begin

Pop explains that he and Bernie share a fragile bond, but the real danger is Bernie’s unpredictable rages. He notes that Bernie roams the forest, preying on outsiders who arrive at the area. The family remains oblivious as sinister events lurk in the shadows.

night Pop's trailer vicinity
4

Tracy walks by the river; family murdered

Tracy goes for a walk near the river while the others settle in for the night. Bernie enters the family's trailer and murders Harry, Vera, and Mikey. Tracy returns to find the gruesome scene and the family wiped out.

night family's campsite/trailer near the river
5

Pop's heart attack and Tracy's escape

Tracy discovers her family dead and the terror escalates as Pop attempts to flee with the microwave. He collapses from a heart attack and dies in the process. Tracy flees into the woods, narrowly escaping Bernie.

night family campsite and trailer
6

Bernie steals P.J.'s identity and Jeep

Bernie removes his straitjacket, disguises himself as P. J., wearing jeans, sunglasses, and a cowboy hat. He drives off in P. J.'s Jeep along a mountain road. The danger follows as he vanishes into the dark landscape.

night mountain roads
7

Tracy's encounter with Bernie on the road

Tracy stops the Jeep briefly but realizes the driver is Bernie and flees in horror. Bernie chases her down the road, culminating with her being struck and killed by his vehicle.

night mountain road
8

Bernie arrives at the wilderness camp and begins killings

Bernie reaches the wilderness training camp and immediately begins his slaughter, starting by killing and dismembering Marcie in her tent with an axe. He then moves on to threaten Regis, cutting off his arm and shooting him with his own gun. The camp's mood shifts from routine to terror.

night wilderness training camp
9

Further carnage at the camp: Chet and Vera

Bernie proceeds to attack Chet and Vera in the camp's makeshift shower, scalding Vera before hacking Chet to death. The relentless violence leaves the campers terrified and scrambling for safety. The camp's danger becomes unignorable.

night camp showers
10

Detective Tom Taylor investigates; Debbie and Ron arrive

Detective Tom Taylor arrives at the scene and begins to piece together the case, initially suspecting a crazed meth addict. Debbie Harris and Ron direct other campers toward safety as they try to reach the regrouping trainees. Tension climbs as the investigation and the killings unfold.

night Harry/Vera campsite and camp vicinity
11

Sophie witnesses and is captured

Sophie witnesses the carnage and flees back to the camp, only to be captured by Bernie. The sense of danger intensifies as the killer's reach closes in on everyone. Nighttime fear becomes a defining feeling for the survivors.

night camp
12

Tom discovers the swinging trap and is killed

Tom finds what appears to be a sinister display: the corpses of Bernie's victims tied to a swinging board with a boombox. Sophie is suspended on a noose, struggling for air. Bernie impales Tom with a spear when he tries to intervene.

night woods near camp
13

Debbie and Ron confront Bernie at the cabin

Debbie and Ron leave the cabin and head toward the camp, hoping to warn others. Bernie suddenly appears and kills Ron before Debbie can retreat. She fights back and shoots Bernie with a shotgun, pushing him back.

night Bernie's cabin and camp
14

Dawn rescue and final image

At dawn an ambulance carries Debbie and Tom down the mountain, Tom clinging to life. Moments later, Bernie drives by in a police vehicle, leaving the audience with the sense that the killer remains at large. The mountain world is left scarred by the night's events.

dawn mountain road and camp vicinity

Last Updated: October 09, 2025 at 14:25

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Moonstalker Summary

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Moonstalker Summary

Characters, Settings & Themes in Moonstalker

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Characters, Settings & Themes in Moonstalker

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