Track of the Moon Beast
Professor "Johnny Longbow" Salina, a man who really knows his stews, introduces Paul Carlson to the practical-joking Kathy Nolan. Paul and Kathy seem to hit it off rather well but, during a meteor storm, a meteorite fragment strikes Paul, burying itself deep in his skull, which has the unpleasant side-effect of causing Paul to mutate into a giant reptilian monster at night and go on murderous rampages. It turns out that this sort of thing has happened before, when Professor Salina rediscovers ancient Native American paintings detailing a similar event many centuries ago. Kathy, however, still loves Paul, and tries to save him.
A low-budget creature feature that’s a curious time capsule of 1970s regional horror, blending monster madness with Native American folklore—awkwardly, but with a certain earnest charm.
- Early example of Native American mythology intersecting with sci-fi horror—clumsily handled but historically notable.
- Creature design is a rubber-suited relic, an artifact of practical effects before CGI’s rise, with all the goofy charm and limited menace that entails.
- For fans of campy, earnest low-budget horrors—think Ed Wood-level weird meets Southern Gothic vibe.
- The film’s pacing and tone often wander, but it’s a fascinating glimpse at how regional indie horror tackled cultural themes under the radar.
