One thing I hate about summer is things always drop on my head. By things I mean insects. They are just attracted to my head. Maybe it's because I have beautifully smelling hair, I don't know. Countless times I have to remove a bee from my hair with my bare hands! Creepy. I've never had a problem with bats but I am in no doubt that should I be near one, it would fall on my head. Which is why I have sympathy for the poor souls in this film who get killed because I am sure my inconvenience is on a par with theirs.So, the film version of the above rant begins with a series of traumatic deaths in Texas. In one attack a bat bursts through a car windscreen while the occupants indulge in a little heavy petting. The confined space provides for some quite dramatic and explosive results.
These are not your common garden-variety bats. They have been infected, genetically modified. And now they are on the loose, feeding off the locals. All in the name of science! Lucky Zoologist, Sheila Casper is on hand to track them down before they eat everyone. They capture one and attach a tracking device to its wing, hoping it will lead them to the bat's lair. But in a genuinely creepy twist, the other bats attack it, as if they know it's been sent to rat them out.
People are warned to lock their doors but no one listens and instead chaos reins and the creatures start getting big....real big!
Despite the cheesy nature of this film we are treated to some great Batman-like scenes of hundreds of bats lunging at people, flying past the moon and, erm, munching on someones neck. There is also a scene in a supermarket, complete with country music playing over the loud speaker, where we get to see through the bat's eyes. One of the funniest monster, batty, animals run amok films around. It's making me look at pigeons in a whole new, unpleasant light...
"Batty"... Lol!
ReplyDeleteAh, "Bats"! I remember it with some affection, but you know it's not going to be a fantastic film when Lou Diamond Phillips has top billing...
ReplyDeleteNothing wrong with Mr. Diamond Phillips in my book. He can take anything on - killer mutated bats, roadworker zombies, giant sharks. He deserves all our respect.
ReplyDeleteI remember being disappointed the first time around as I had anticipated a much scarier film. The second time, though, was with friends and beers and it was much more enjoyable (and laughable).
ReplyDeleteAnother good, bat-themed picture is Ti West's 'The Roost' (2005). Its a bit slow-paced, but once things pick up it turns out to be really creepy.
Good god...I've always wanted to check this out but thought it would just be horrible...
ReplyDeleteHowever, your post has now given me strength to check it out (as long as I view with a six pack handy)!!
I wanted to let you know I absolutely love your blog and awarded it with a blogger award (tho I'm sure you have a million of these already):
http://spookyvegan.blogspot.com/2010/08/another-award-happy-101-award.html
Keep up the great work! :)
I saw this for the first time way back in '99 and was not amused, but never attempted to sit through it again. Maybe my opinion will have changed over time.
ReplyDeleteYou really cant hate on a movie about giant killer bats, its like going against nature or something!
ReplyDeleteGot a special little surprise in the mail yesterday, cant wait to bust that sucker out and take pics with it Sarah! Cheers!
Ooh, wonder what that might be, Carl! Hehe.
ReplyDeleteI have a vague memory of seeing this one. Although it's pretty mixed up with the time I was around seven and a bat flew into our car at night and then couldn't fly its way back out. Hideous.
ReplyDeleteThe idea of putting a GPS on the bat's wing was cool. However, they did not think that bats can ruin it too.
ReplyDelete