The story, told from the perspective of an older "local" man, begins as he is sitting around at a convenience store in Bangor, Maine with a group of his friends during a heavy snowstorm.
The men recognize him as the son of Richie Grenadine, a local man who was injured some time ago in a work accident, and was given lifetime workers' compensation.
The odor pouring out from behind the door convinces the group that Richie was eating more than dead cats, speculating that he may be responsible for a recent rash of missing people.
[4] George Beahm describes "Gray Matter" as an "odd little story [that] recalls 'The Lonesome Death of Jordy Verrill'.
"[5] The first episode of the 2019 Shudder anthology streaming television series Creepshow is based on "Gray Matter" and stars Jesse C. Boyd, Christopher Nathan, Adrienne Barbeau, Giancarlo Esposito, and Tobin Bell.