Endangered Species

Endangered Species is a 1982 American science fiction horror film directed and co-written by Alan Rudolph, and starring Robert Urich, JoBeth Williams, Peter Coyote, and Hoyt Axton. It follows a former New York City police officer (Urich) who relocates to a rural Colorado town, where a newly-appointed sheriff (Williams) is investigating a series of bizarre cattle mutilations. Plot Ruben Castle, a brutish and alcoholic New York City police officer, quits his job and becomes sober, allowing him to reunite with his estranged teenage daughter, Mackenzie. Ruben decides to bring Mackenzie with him to Colorado, where he plans to start a new life. En route, the pair become stranded near the rural small town of Buffalo after their trailer suffers a tire blowout. Mackenzie rushes in her father's car to find a tow truck, and crashes into the vehicle of the newly-appointed town sheriff, Harriet Perdue. Ruben and Mackenzie park their trailer in a campground, and become acquainted with the townspeople. Ruben encounters Harriet several times, and learns she is investigating a series of mysterious cattle mutilations, which have spurred conspiracy theories among locals ranging from UFOs to a Satanic cult in the area. Ruben and Harriet strike a friendship over their shared careers as police officers. One night, Harriet gives Ruben a ride, and is called to the scene of a burning barn, where Harriet unsuccessfully attempts to save a bull. Meanwhile, Mackenzie, who is on a date with Wayne, a local deputy, witnesses a car speeding from the barn and decides to follow it into a wrecking yard. A crash ensues between the two vehicles, and two men are apprehended for the arson, which they staged to inspire fear in the townspeople. Local newspaper publisher Joe Hiatt provides Ruben background on the cattle mutilations, which have been plaguing Colorado and Wyoming, and recounts sightings of strange black helicopters flying over the region. Meanwhile, Joe publishes editorials about the events, alienating him from the town mayor, as well as local cattle baron Ben Morgan. Ruben reluctantly grows fascinated with the events. After relapsing and getting drunk one night, Ruben visits Harriet and makes sexual advances toward her, but she rebuffs him. Ruben leaves and encounters a large grain mill truck driving erratically, leading him to follow the vehicle to a rural fenced industrial compound.