Wampus Cat, The (2024)

[bunniefuu]

[MUSIC PLAYING]

[BIRDS CHIRPING]

[GOAT BLEATS]

I know.

I know.

[CROW CAWS]

[SUSPENSEFUL MUSIC]

[BIRDS CHIRPING]

[RADIO PLAYING]

(SINGING) Tight as can

be thicker than these.

He's seen this before.

He knows what's in store.

Cures every ailment temporarily.

The thing you can't do

is make memories of you.

Go away.

That can't be my beautiful

niece, now, can it?

Hi, uncle Gary.

You get pretty

every time I see you.

And your eyesight gets

worse every time I see you.

Get in here where it's warm.

Come on in.

Good to see you, kid.

Good to see you, too.

Good to see ya.

How you been?

Good.

How was that drive?

Did you get stuck in

traffic on I-65 again?

Every time.

What did I tell you about 46?

Take 46 into town, please.

I used to tell your dad

that all the damn time,

and he was so stubborn.

He never would listen to me.

Well, I mean, I get

that from him, I guess.

Well, that's better

than his sense of style.

Says the guy wearing

the grandpa sweater.

You know, I like this.

It's comfortable.

I see all that money, and you

can't keep up with the times.

Hey, I keep up

the times just fine.

Thank you very much.

I see you're still reading.

You know, that's good

for an aging brain.

I am reading.

I am.

It's a good book.

I mean, I can't put

this thing down.

What's it about?

No, no, no.

Let me guess.

The Loch Monster or Bigfoot.

The chupacabra.

You think you're

funny, don't you?

All right.

All right.

Tell me what it's about.

It's a good book.

It's a good book.

When I'm done, if you want

to read it, let me know.

I see I wasn't too far off.

Really?

Do you still believe in these?

Oh, you know I do.

You know, gotta

have an open mind.

Remember them stories I told

you when you were a little girl?

Yes, yes.

But don't you think

you're a little old

to be believing in those still?

First you insult my

clothes, and then my hobby.

Why did I invite you up here?

Oh, because you love me.

Yeah, I guess I do.

I guess I do.

You know, we got a lot

of catching up to do.

You want some coffee?

Absolutely.

All right.

You still want, like, a gallon

of cream in your coffee?

RACHAEL: Maybe

just half a gallon.

GARY: Some things

never change, do they?

[BIRDS CHIRPING]

[SOMBER MUSIC]

[GROWLING]

[OMINOUS MUSIC]

[HISSING]

[GROWLING]

[HEAVY BREATHING]

[RADIO PLAYING]

(SINGING) Here comes the part

same old song chasing me down.

It won't let go.

Oh, why.

That looks good.

Sam, would you like

some more juice?

RACHAEL: Yes, please.

GARY: OK now.

Tell me when to stop.

When it overflows,

you've gone too far.

GARY: Hilarious.

So how'd you sleep last night?

Great.

Actually, best sleep

I've had in months.

Well, sleep's probably

not a big priority

with your schooling

going on, right?

Yeah.

How is school going?

We didn't really talk

about it last night.

It's OK.

OK?

I lost my financial

aid, so I won't

be returning in the spring.

Oh, Rachael.

I'm sorry.

I'm sorry, kid.

It's OK.

I mean, I have other

options outside of college.

Can you do like a... a grant

or scholarship or something?

RACHAEL: I applied to all of

the scholarships and grants

I can get a hold of and

I haven't heard back.

And I've used up all

my financial aid.

So, yeah.

Anyways, I don't really

want to dwell on this.

Can we, like, go for a

walk or something later?

Yeah, yeah.

I mean, I've got

some errands to run.

We can do that.

Good.

Say, you know, I think

this is going to work out OK.

I think this school thing, I

think you're going to be OK.

I... I just have a feeling.

Yeah, anyways, did I hear

strange noises last night

and then see you going

out into the woods?

You would not believe

me if I told you.

I'm pretty open-minded.

Give me a try.

Well, you know the book I was

reading about the wampus cat?

RACHAEL: Yeah.

OK, well, I think there's

one living in the woods

back behind the house.

You know, I'm starting to

think your cigarettes are

laced with something.

No, no, no.

I'm serious.

I've seen this thing

from a distance, OK.

And I've been feeding

it every night.

You... you've been feeding it?

Right.

Right.

Yeah.

RACHAEL: Why?

Well, I feel like if I

show the thing respect,

it won't... you know.

It won't eat you.

Well, something like that.

Yeah, yeah.

I mean, I respect it.

I respect its territory.

I respect its very existence.

Speaking of his existence,

where would he come from?

I mean, I've heard the tales.

But why here?

There's a lot of stories, OK.

Some people think it goes

back to Cherokee times.

Other people think

it's amphibious.

It can live in the

water or on land.

Then you're going

to like this one.

Some people think the damn

thing is a space alien.

Somehow I'm not

surprised by that.

Well, I'm not saying I

believe the space alien story.

But there's a couple

of things that

are consistent with

all the stories.

RACHAEL: Yeah.

Like what?

Well, some people think the

thing has mesmerizing eyes.

It just kind of spellbinding.

The other thing, they say the

thing stinks to high heaven.

I mean, you come in

contact with this thing,

you will never

forget that smell.

You know, uncle Gary,

you are a lot of things,

and you may be getting

a little older,

but you are definitely

never boring.

Well, on that note,

let's take that walk.

Sounds good.

JEFF: Thank you.

Just what we need.

Yeah.

Yeah, add that to the list.

[KNOCKS]

You're late, deputy.

I've been a little busy, Jeff.

You're just going to have to

be patient and forgive me.

It's the third time this month.

Two of my h*ifers,

and now my best goat.

Yeah, I hate to hear that.

If you hate it that bad,

you'd have been here yesterday

or three weeks ago,

for that matter.

I am here now.

You want to show

me the footprints.

Whatever the hell it was

ripped my goat's head off

and drag the carcass out

in the woods that way.

Yeah, but look at the print.

You can tell by the trails.

Walking on two legs.

Two legs?

Yeah, you see that.

One step at a time.

Four-legged animal

would have alternating

pairs moving simultaneously

up through there.

What kind of animal

walks upright on two legs?

Could be human, but

prints are too big.

Well, ain't no mountain

lion or bear either.

No.

So what's your

plan then, deputy?

DEPUTY: Well, Jeff,

I'll tell you.

I think the best

thing to do here

is install some

security cameras,

and we'll just wait

till it comes back.

To butcher another

one of my animals.

Hell with that.

It may be the only way to verify

what we're dealing with here.

Or I can try my own method, one

I should have tried weeks ago.

And what's that?

I'm going to hunt it down

and I'm going to k*ll it.

I wouldn't try that.

We have no idea what

we're dealing with.

Look, I ain't going

to stand around and let

it ruin my livelihood.

I'm going out tonight.

You need to calm down and

let the department handle this.

No.

You've had your chance.

It's my turn now.

As an officer of

the law, I strongly

encourage you to

reconsider this.

And I would strongly encourage

you to get off my property.

If you're not here to arrest

me, I'd say we're done here.

[OMINOUS MUSIC]

[GROWLING]

[CROWS CAW]

They kept it going.

What's going on, Gary?

Hey, Jeff.

How's it going?

I been better.

Listen, you ain't see anything

odd out your way, have you?

No.

Like what?

I don't know.

Strange animals, I guess.

Strange animal.

Like what?

Bigfoot?

Maybe.

But that'd be up your

alley, wouldn't it?

Well, it would be up my alley.

But, no, I haven't seen

anything suspicious.

You lose some more

cattle or something?

No, it was a goat this time.

And I'm fed up with it.

So do me a favor.

Keep your eyes peeled.

And let me know if you

see anything out that way,

all right?

I will.

I will.

Appreciate you.

But I better get.

Hunt starts at dusk.

Wait a minute.

Hunt?

What the hell are

you going hunting

for if you don't know

what k*lled your animals?

We'll know when we find it.

You be careful out there, OK?

Always am.

See you, Gary.

[BIRDS CHIRPING]

[INSTRUMENTAL MUSIC]

[COUNTRY MUSIC]

How are you doing, biggin?

Pretty good.

I intend to do some fishing.

Oh, really?

You ever been

around here before?

I have not, no.

Well, you've come to the

best place in the country.

There's, like, 1,480 lakes

in a 10-mile radius of here.

90% of them is

open to the public.

So all kinds of bass,

bluegill, crappie.

What are you looking for?

Fish.

MINNER: Just fish?

Preferably.

So where's the best

place to catch one, huh?

Well, the best

place to catch a fish

is right there by

his bottom lip.

I meant, you know,

geographically, man.

They've been catching a lot

of big fish out of Bass Lake.

So what you want to do.

You want to go down here, take

two rights, a left and a right

on that gravel road.

And then you come down there

and there's the boat ramp

right there.

Two...

MINNER: Two rights,

a left, and a right.

Bass Lake.

MINNER: Yeah.

All right, I'm going

to browse your supplies.

So thank you.

MINNER: Sounds good.

How you doing, Billy?

Hey, Minner.

I caught my limit the other day.

I need some more of

those hummingbird hearts.

MINNER: Another

hummingbird heart special?

Yes, sir.

Hey, you got her.

Catch a big one.

Going to.

That city slicker ain't

going to catch no fish.

No.

Hey, I got a new joke for you.

BILLY: Right.

This grasshopper

goes into a bar.

The bartender

says, hey, you know

they named a drink after you?

And the grasshopper says, what?

Steve?

[LAUGHTER]

Hey, what's the

good news, biggin.

I ain't got none.

What about you, sis?

Well, what can I do

you both for today?

You still sell shotgun shells?

Sure do.

How many you need?

As many as you'll sell me.

Dang, son.

What do you need

that much a*mo for?

Going hunting.

What for?

Godzilla?

We're not exactly sure

what we're going after.

But Jeff can't lose

any more livestock.

How many does

that make now, Jeff?

Three.

And I ain't waiting around

that useless police force

to bring em in either.

What do you suspect is doing it?

We've not seen that

kind of track before,

so it's hard to tell.

Could be the cattle

wampus you're looking for.

I don't follow you, Minner.

You know, you've

heard the story, sis.

The glowing eyes.

The screaming sounds.

Minner, can I just have

my shotgun shells, please?

MINNER: Sure thing, biggin.

Well, what do I owe you?

On the house.

Times are rough, and I hope

you get that son of a b*tch.

[INSTRUMENTAL MUSIC]

There's more prints.

He's been here.

Let's go.

All right, split up.

Keep your eyes peeled.

This ends tonight.

[BIRDS CHIRPING]

RACHAEL: Hey,

where are you guys?

Yeah, I... yeah, I'm ready to go.

Where are you?

So you're on your way?

Calm down.

You just get here.

Go with the plan.

Everything will be fine.

Yeah.

OK, see you in a little bit.

Bye.

Whoa.

It's cold in here tonight.

Let me turn the

fire up a little bit.

RACHAEL: Thank you.

You remember when you

were a little girl and you

and your mom and dad

would come over here

and we'd sit by the fire

and just talk for hours?

Yeah, some of my best moments

have been in this house.

Who were you on the phone with?

Oh, just a friend from school.

No big deal.

You just sounded worried

or freaked out or something.

Oh, oh, no.

It was no big deal.

You know me.

I just get all hyped

up about things.

You get that crap from your dad.

I swear that man was born

with high blood pressure.

I miss him.

Yeah.

I miss him every damn day.

He was a good man.

He was a good man.

He raised a good daughter.

[SUSPENSEFUL MUSIC]

[GROWLING]

Guys.

[g*nsh*t]

[SCREAMING]

They found it.

[GROWLING]

[SCREAMING]

Guys.

Hey.

[SCREAMING]

JEFF: What's going on?

Jeff.

Troy.

Oh, God.

Oh, God.

[SCREAMING]

[OMINOUS MUSIC]

What are you doing?

I'm just looking for

that old picture album.

I thought maybe

we'd just reminisce

about the good old days.

[GROWLING]

What was that?

Shh.

Is that him?

The wampus cat?

No, it didn't sound...

It didn't sound right.

Coyotes or something maybe.

It's definitely not a coyote.

But I'm going to

go check it out.

Because if it is wampus

cat, he might be injured.

I mean, Jeff and those guys

running around out there.

Who knows what's going on?

Yeah, wouldn't

that be dangerous?

No.

Listen, he knows me.

We trust each other.

It'll be fine.

I just need to check, OK.

OK.

No, no, no.

[SUSPENSEFUL MUSIC]

[GROWLING]

OK.

[ALARM BEEPS]

Oh, dad's birthday.

[ALARM BEEPS]

[GROWLING]

[ALARM BEEPS]

OK, OK, OK.

OK.

MAN: Can you just hurry up.

He's going to see us.

I'm going as fast as I can.

Hey.

WOMAN: You shouldn't

be out here, Dusty.

Who's out here?

You're on private property.

[ALARM BEEPS]

OK, OK.

What the hell's

going on out here?

The hell is going on?

Hey, I know somebody out here.

Come on out right now.

This is ridiculous.

What is going...

[SCREAMS]

[ALARM BEEPS]

Damn it.

[GROWLING]

[HOWLS]

What the hell are

you guys doing here?

What?

What?

You're supposed to be keeping

uncle Gary distracted.

Something... something

bad happened out there.

What?

Your uncle, he...

He fell and he hit his head.

He's dead, Rachael.

What... what are

you talking about?

He was chasing us, and

I guess his lamp went out.

He couldn't see

where he was going.

And he... he must have tripped.

Oh, my God.

Oh, my God.

It was an accident.

We didn't mean for

him to get hurt.

No.

You were just supposed

to keep him busy.

Dang it, Rachael.

We know that.

We didn't mean for

this to happen.

Have you found the money?

Rachael, have you

found the money?

No.

No, I didn't find it.

How do you even

know it's here, OK?

What if he kept it in some bank?

He doesn't trust banks.

He never has.

Then maybe he changed his mind.

No, no, you'd have to know him.

He doesn't trust banks.

He doesn't trust the government.

He doesn't trust hospitals.

He doesn't trust

anyone, except...

We need to call

the police, guys.

And tell them what.

And tell them what happened.

And what kind of good

is that going to do?

Where's that going to get us?

Because it's the

right thing to do.

It's the right thing to do.

Look, I'm not going to be

lectured by some little girl who

was going to steal

from her own uncle,

and I'm sure as hell not going

to spend the rest of my life

in a jail cell.

Dusty.

No.

It was an accident.

The old man's dead.

And nothing we can

do can change that.

So here's what we do.

We get out of here now

before anybody sees us.

Nobody knows we're here.

Look.

Even if we turn

ourselves in, it's not

going to change a damn thing.

I'll just go get my things and

I'll be right behind you guys.

What about the money?

Forget the money.

I think I've done

enough damage here.

[SOMBER MUSIC]

[HEAVY BREATHING]

[GROWLING]

[HEART BEATS]

[OMINOUS MUSIC]

[SCREAMS]

[SIREN WAILING]

Come on, Jess.

[CAR HONKS]

[GROWLING]

[OMINOUS MUSIC]

What in the world?

Hello.

Hello.

Somebody there?

[GROWLING]

[SUSPENSEFUL MUSIC]

[GROWLING]

[SCREAMS]

[PHONE RINGS]

Hello.

Hi.

Am I speaking to

Rachael Beckett?

RACHAEL(ON PHONE): This is she.

MALCOLM: I'm glad I

caught you, Ms. Beckett.

My name is Malcolm Novak.

I'm the loan officer

here at the university.

We met way back when

when you started.

Yeah, I remember.

What can I do for you?

Well, I apologize for

not reaching out sooner.

But I see that you've already

moved out of your dorm.

Yeah, when the A didn't

come in for the new semester,

I just assumed I needed

to find a place quick.

Well, you see,

that's why I called.

I've got some good news for you.

Oh.

Yes.

It seems that the remaining

tuition has been paid in full.

So you're all set to come

back to the university

and continue your classes.

I mean, that is if you want to.

I... I don't understand.

I was so behind on my

loans that I couldn't

afford to borrow anymore.

Right.

But it appears that

another individual

has stepped forward and paid for

your final years of schooling.

He made a payment

by cashier's check

and took the entire amount.

Mr. Gary Beckett.

I assume it's a relation.

Ms, are you... are

you still there?

Yeah, yeah, I am.

Just shocked.

Well, don't be.

It seems like somebody cares

about you and your education.

And, well, that's

something to celebrate.

Yeah, yeah.

It is.

Well, welcome

back, Ms. Beckett.

If you head on

over to your dorms,

you can inquire about

moving your things back in.

Yeah, thank you.

Thank you.

Absolutely.

And you have a

good evening, dear.

And good luck in the spring.

[SOMBER MUSIC]

[GROWLING]

[OMINOUS MUSIC]

No, no, no, no.

Son of a b*tch.

[WHISPERS]

[SOBBING]

[GROWLING]

[SCEAMS]

No.

No.

No.

No.

Oh, no.

No.

You can't do this.

No.

[YELLING]

I don't want to die.

No.

No.

No.

No.

Don't k*ll me.

Don't k*ll me.

Don't k*ll me.

I don't want to die.

No.

No.

No.

[GROWLING]

[SOMBER MUSIC]

[OMINOUS MUSIC]

[SCREAMS]

[BIRDS CHIRPING]

[SOMBER MUSIC]

[OWL HOOTS]

[PHONE RINGS]

[GROWLING]

[SUSPENSEFUL MUSIC]