The Beast Must Die

In the grand estate of millionaire Tom Newcliffe (Calvin Lockhart), an assortment of unsuspecting guests converges, including his wife Caroline (Marlene Clark). Unbeknownst to them, Tom has a sinister intent: to identify and eliminate one of their own, a werewolf that lurks among them. The diverse group consists of Arthur Bennington (Charles Gray), a seasoned diplomat; Jan and Davina Gilmore (Michael Gambon and Ciaran Madden), a pianist and his ex-student-turned-wife; Paul Foote (Tom Chadbon), an artist fresh from a stint in prison; and Prof. Lundgren (Peter Cushing), an archaeologist with a fascination for lycanthropy.

As they settle into the opulent mansion, Tom's associate Pavel (Anton Diffring) discreetly monitors their every move via CCTV cameras and motion sensors throughout the grounds. However, Pavel is skeptical about the very existence of werewolves, fueling Tom's obsessive quest to uncover the truth. The millionaire employs a series of tests designed to provoke the transformation of one of his guests into a werewolf, but these attempts prove fruitless.

As the nights of the full moon unfold, tensions rise, and the group begins to fray at the edges. Pavel meets a gruesome end at the claws of the werewolf, which sends Tom's fixation on finding the culprit into overdrive, much to the distress of his wife Caroline. Tom becomes increasingly fixated on Paul Foote, who was once imprisoned for an unsettling reason: he had a taste for human flesh – a claim Foote vehemently denies.

On the second night, Tom takes to the skies in a helicopter, scouring the woods below for signs of the werewolf. His aerial patrol yields a four-legged beast, which he attempts to take down with gunfire, only to miss his mark. The werewolf then turns its attention to the helicopter's pilot, striking him down. Its rampage continues as it claims the life of Caroline's beloved canine companion and later Arthur Bennington in his bed.

As the mystery deepens, the audience is invited to unravel the truth alongside the characters, with a tantalizing 30-second break dubbed "The Werewolf Break" that challenges viewers to guess who among them is the shape-shifting predator.

As the tension builds, Tom presents the remaining group with one final, daunting challenge: submitting to the test of putting a silver bullet in their mouth. But before they can begin, Tom must first prove his own humanity by undergoing the same ordeal. With trepidation, he takes the test, while Caroline (Caroline) hesitantly complies, her hand transforming into a hairy, clawed appendage as she does so. As she fully morphs into a snarling werewolf, Tom seizes the opportunity to demonstrate his bravery and shoots her with a silver bullet, his expression a mix of shock and distress. The tragic memory of Caroline's transformation and subsequent death while taking care of her dog's wounds now weighs heavily on him.

Professor Lundgren deduces that Caroline had contracted the lycanthropic disease while nursing her canine companion's injuries, the revelation sparking Tom's ire as he mistakenly accuses Foote (Foote) of being the werewolf. But before long, it becomes clear that Foote has also fallen prey to the monstrous affliction, his lifeless body a grim testament to the beast's merciless killing spree.

Seized by grief and anger, Tom sets out into the surrounding woods, driven by a burning desire for vengeance against the creature responsible for Caroline's demise. His search ultimately leads him to the heart of the forest, where he confronts the snarling monstrosity in a fierce battle. With a silver bullet at the ready, Tom delivers the fatal blow, ending the werewolf's reign of terror.

As the dust settles, Tom returns to Professor Lundgren and Davina (Davina), his mind reeling with the horrifying truth: he himself had been bitten by the werewolf during their struggle, condemning him to a fate worse than death. Refusing to succumb to his newfound nature, Tom locks himself in the mansion's study, where he takes aim at his own reflection, firing a silver bullet into his skull and ending his torment once and for all.