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Horror Cult Classic

An alien crash-lands in rural Maryland, unleashing a disintegrator-wielding terror on a small town.

NIGHTBEAST

It survived the crash. The town won’t survive the night.

1982 · 1h 21m · R · Horror / Science Fiction · IMDB TMDB

Sheriff Jack Cinder races to clear the town as an extraterrestrial survivor attacks with claws and a deadly energy weapon. Political interference leaves the remaining townspeople trapped in its hunting ground.

Quick Answer

What is Nightbeast about?

Nightbeast is a 1982 American horror and science fiction film directed by Don Dohler about a savage alien that crash-lands near a Maryland town and is confronted by a sheriff and locals after beginning a deadly rampage.

Programmer's Pick

Nightbeast is pure regional sci-fi mayhem, shot through with camp and splatter. Where else will you find an alien with a disintegrator ray loose in the Maryland woods, a sheriff outgunned, and a mayor more interested in his party than his town’s survival?

— SassyFlix Programmer

Overview

Nightbeast sets its sights on rural Maryland, where a small alien spaceship struck by an asteroid crash-lands near the town of Perry Hall. As its extraterrestrial pilot emerges and begins a violent spree—armed with a deadly disintegrator ray—the local sheriff, Jack Cinder, scrambles to protect his community. Political stonewalling from the mayor only compounds the chaos, forcing a mismatched group of townsfolk to face the cosmic threat themselves. With attacks occurring in homes, on the road, and throughout the woods, the film leans into small-town paranoia and survival, blending B-movie horror with science fiction to create a campy, gore-laden monster movie.

Details & Specs

Director
Don Dohler
Writer
Don Dohler
Release
1982
Runtime
1h 21m
Country
United States of America
Language
English

Cast & Crew

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Director: Don Dohler Writer: Don Dohler

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Why Cult

Alien Disintegrator Ray

The extraterrestrial menace doesn’t just claw victims—it wields a disintegrator weapon, annihilating anyone unlucky enough to cross its path.

Regional B-Movie Charm

Filmed in Maryland by Don Dohler, the film oozes local flavor, practical effects, and low-budget ingenuity.

Gore and Camp

From decapitations to basement electrocutions, this is a monster movie that doesn’t skimp on bloody spectacle or 1980s camp.

Small-Town Survival

The sheriff and a handful of townsfolk must improvise defenses as authority figures fail and chaos spreads.

Scene Gallery

Threat File

Trigger

Alien crash-lands after asteroid strike

Threat

Extraterrestrial with disintegrator ray

Effect

Kills townspeople and spreads terror

Countermeasure

Disarmed by marksman, electrocuted by townspeople

Setting

Rural Maryland town and surrounding woods

Questions from the Vault

When was Nightbeast released? +

Nightbeast was released in 1982.

Who directed Nightbeast? +

Nightbeast was directed by Don Dohler.

How long is Nightbeast? +

Nightbeast has a runtime of 81 minutes.

What genre is Nightbeast? +

Nightbeast is a horror and science fiction film.

Where can I watch Nightbeast? +

Nightbeast is available to stream on SassyFlix.

Trailers & Clips

Nightbeast trailer
Official Trailer
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