The Being

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.