This campy, entertaining cheapie from PRC Pictures features Bela Lugosi as a chemist who plots an elaborate revenge scheme on his business partners, whom he feels have cheated him out of his share. To this end he develops a mutant breed of vicious, oversized bats and trains several of this breed to home in on a special chemical which he then blends with shaving lotion. Presenting gifts of the lotion to his partners as a peace offering (and browbeating them into splashing it on themselves while in his presence), he subsequently unleashes his monstrous pets to tear them to pieces. Believe it or not, this was one of PRC's more successful horror programmers, spawning a the sequel Devil Bat's Daughter. ~ Cavett Binion, Rovi
Bela Lugosi pretty much plays the same character in all his movies. He's Dracula no matter what the role is. He was definitely not a well-rounded actor but I love his movies anyway. I actually saw this on the same disc with another Lugosi movie, the Corpse Vanishes. If you like campy and cheap movies (which I do), you will like this one. It is always funny to me to see how bad some movies are made (the real bat in this movie is always out of focus). Also, real bats flap their wings rapidly and constantly when in flight unlike the slow moving, gliding devil bat.
Although universally condemned as one of Bela Lugosi's poorest films, compare this to the 1946 remake "The Flying Serpent." Also, be sure to check out this film's sequel "Devil Bat's Daughter" of the same year. Mr. Lugosi's character, Dr. Carruthers, comes out looking good in comparison.
Bela Lugosi pretty much plays the same character in all his movies. He's Dracula no matter what the role is. He was definitely not a well-rounded actor but I love his movies anyway. I actually saw this on the same disc with another Lugosi movie, the Corpse Vanishes. If you like campy and cheap movies (which I do), you will like this one. It is always funny to me to see how bad some movies are made (the real bat in this movie is always out of focus). Also, real bats flap their wings rapidly and constantly when in flight unlike the slow moving, gliding devil bat.
Although universally condemned as one of Bela Lugosi's poorest films, compare this to the 1946 remake "The Flying Serpent." Also, be sure to check out this film's sequel "Devil Bat's Daughter" of the same year. Mr. Lugosi's character, Dr. Carruthers, comes out looking good in comparison.