In Albuquerque, New Mexico, mineralogist Paul Carlson, Chase Cordell, is struck by a lunar meteorite during a meteor shower. A fragment lodges in his brain, and when the Moon comes out, Carlson transforms into the Moon Beast, a powerful, savage lizard-like creature. In this feral form, he loses all memory of his humanity and goes on a deadly rampage, killing people at random. As a man, Carlson endures spells of dizziness and nausea, worrying his girlfriend Kathy Nolan, Leigh Drake, and their friend and former anthropology professor John 'Johnny Longbow' Salinas, Gregorio Sala.
The danger Carlson poses gradually becomes clearer: he is, in truth, the Moon Beast, a realization that deepens as scientists weigh in. It is revealed that the meteorite fragment in his brain is the source of the transformation. Plans to remove it are proposed, but NASA brain surgeons realize—after another X-ray and Johnny’s recollection of Native American legends documenting similar phenomena—that the fragment has disintegrated and will ultimately cause Carlson to self-destruct. This grim prognosis pushes the team to act with urgency.
When Carlson learns of his doomed fate, he escapes into the desert on a stolen motorcycle, a desperate attempt to end the carnage himself before he can hurt anyone else. The case draws the attention of local authorities, including Police Captain McCabe, Patrick Wright, who coordinates the urgent search to stop the Moon Beast and protect the community. The pursuit brings Kathy, Johnny, and a chorus of responders into the stark and open desert landscape that defines Carlson’s final days.
Johnny’s knowledge of legends and his intimate memory of Carlson’s favorite places guide the pursuit toward Sandia Crest, a place Carlson loved and often visited. The trio—Kathy, Johnny, and the watching officers—follow the trail to this high point, hoping to avert further tragedy. Johnny’s memory becomes a crucial bridge between myth and science, offering a path to resolution that blends cultural insight with practical action.
In the climactic confrontation, Johnny improvises a weapon—a precisely tipped arrow embedded with the original meteorite. The shot is precise and final: Carlson is struck, and the meteorite fragment—still within him—triggers a catastrophic explosion. The Moon Beast erupts in a blaze of destruction, collapsing the eerie fusion of lunar science and human tragedy. The case closes with a careful note: the danger was tied to an alien fragment, but the end comes through a measured blend of intuition, courage, and scientific reasoning.
