The Sand That Eats

Late at night, on the beach, a huge group of college students is having a wild party. The music is loud, the drinks are flowing, and the air is thick with laughter. Mitch reminds everyone to put their phones in a bag so that no incriminating pictures or videos can be taken. Everyone agrees—it’s all about living in the moment.

Suddenly, Vance and Gilbert stumble upon a strange, gooey ball they found in the sea. Intrigued, they decide to throw it into the fire, but before they can, an argument breaks out. Insults fly, tempers flare, and soon enough, the goo ball is forgotten as the party continues late into the night.

The Morning After

The next morning, Kay wakes up next to Mitch in the lifeguard stand. An awkward silence fills the air as last night’s events come rushing back. Meanwhile, four of their friends wake up inside a car, groggy and disoriented. Marsha, however, awakens on a table, only to immediately throw up.

Kaylee looks around and notices something strange—there are abandoned objects scattered across the sand, but no people. Something is off. Even more disturbing, a bird is struggling on the ground, its legs seemingly stuck in the sand. Kay watches in horror as it slowly sinks beneath the surface.

Mara stirs and begins to move, but Kay tries to warn her—too late. Her feet are suddenly stuck in the sand. She panics, struggling to pull herself free, but the more she fights, the deeper she sinks. When she places her hands on the sand for support, they too become trapped.

At first, the group in the car laughs, thinking it’s a prank. But when Mara starts screaming in terror, the truth becomes clear—she’s not joking. Vance, eager to help, jumps out of the car against his friends’ warnings. He takes just a few steps before he, too, gets stuck. Then, the worst happens—thin, hair-like strands emerge from the sand and begin pulling him down.

A Nightmare Unfolds

Mitch and Jonah want to save him, but the girls stop them as Vance's screams turn into gurgles. The strands drag him under, taking Marsha with him. The group watches in shock as their friends disappear into the sand. The monster—whatever it is—just claimed its first victims.

Desperate for a plan, the friends realize they can’t call 911—their phones are locked in the car’s trunk, and the battery is dead. Kay cautiously extends her hand near the sand without touching it. To everyone’s horror, the mysterious strands immediately reach for her.

Just then, Gilbert wakes up, still stuck inside a trash can from a party prank. Annoyed, he yells at his friends, only stopping when they tell him two people are dead. He groans, admitting his body is sore, but Mitch reminds him that the tide will eventually push him toward them.

Meanwhile, Jonah, determined to test the monster’s reach, retrieves two surfboards. He lays them on the sand and cautiously steps onto them. The monster doesn’t react. Using this method, he begins moving across the sand, alternating the boards to stay safe.

As they discuss their situation, Kaylee’s eyes land on the gooey ball from last night. It’s dried up and split in half. Realization strikes—it wasn’t a ball. It was an egg. And whatever hatched from it is now beneath them, feeding on anything that touches the sand.

Survival and Sacrifice

Jonah tests the monster’s behavior by tossing a sausage onto the sand. Instantly, the strands emerge, dragging it underground. They throw more, trying to determine the creature’s reach. A bird swoops down for a piece and is immediately devoured. This thing is fast and deadly.

Then, Jonah makes a crucial discovery—the monster avoids fire. He lands on an old bonfire spot and remains unharmed. With renewed hope, he moves toward a nearby bench, but just as he reaches it, he slips. The strands lash out, leaving painful, jellyfish-like burns on his stomach. The wounds ooze pus, making him dizzy, but he forces himself to press on.

As the group struggles to survive, an officer named Alex arrives in his patrol car. They frantically wave him down, explaining their nightmare. But he doesn’t believe them, assuming they’re just drunk. He steps onto the sand confidently—nothing happens. The monster can’t get through his boots.

Mocking them, he reaches down to pick up his keys. The second his bare hand touches the sand, the strands grab him. Screaming in agony, Alex tries to free himself, but it’s too late. The group watches as the monster devours him alive.

Realizing the creature reacts to movement and bare skin, Mitch attempts to cover himself with towels and flip-flops. But when he tries to retrieve another towel, the lifeguard stand’s railing breaks, and he falls. The strands swarm him instantly, dragging him down. Blood pools where he once stood. His shirt disintegrates as the monster pulls him deeper, consuming him from the inside out.

The Last Hope

The remaining survivors act fast. Kaylee and Shanda break apart more of the railing, tossing it at their friends to use as makeshift stepping stones. They begin inching their way toward safety.

Finally, a car appears in the distance. Someone is coming. The group starts screaming and waving their arms. Will this stranger save them, or is it too late?

One thing is certain—the sand is still hungry, and it's waiting for its next meal.