Izbavitelj (1976)

A poor writer discovers that a species of rats has banded together to impersonate humans and supplant them unnoticed, in a manner reminiscent of the transformations in Eugene Ionesco's ... See full summary »

Director:

Krsto Papic

Writers:

Ivo Bresan (adaptation), Alexander Grin (novel),

Stars:

Ivica Vidovic, Mirjana Majurec, Relja Basic

1 win.

Cast

Cast overview, first billed only:
Ivica Vidovic	...	Ivan Gajski
Mirjana Majurec	...	Sonja Boskovic
Relja Basic	...	Izbavitelj / Gradonacelnik
Fabijan Sovagovic	...	Profesor Martin Boskovic
Ilija Ivezic	...	Sef policije
Branko Spoljar	...	Rupcic
Petar Dobric	...	Mestar ceremonije na stakorskoj zabavi
Edo Perocevic	...	Policajac
Ana Hercigonja	...	Prodavacica djecijih kapica
Zvonimir Ferencic	...	Nakladnik
Boris Festini	...	Apotekar
Zdenka Trach	...	Gazdarica
Mirko Boman	...	Djelatnik gradske cistoce
Fahro Konjhodzic	...	Violinist
Jovan Stefanovic	...	Policajac

Storyline

A poor writer discovers that a species of rats has banded together to impersonate humans and supplant them unnoticed, in a manner reminiscent of the transformations in Eugene Ionesco's Rhinoceros, or the covert conspiracy of pod-people in The Invasion of the Body Snatchers. This film's story is based on a book by the Soviet writer Alexander Greene.

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Plot Keywords:

writer | rat | transformation | period piece | animal | 

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Genres:

Horror | Sci-Fi

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Details

Country:

Yugoslavia

Language:

Croatian

Release Date:

1976 (Yugoslavia)

Also Known As:

The Rat Savior

Filming Locations:

Tkalciceva Street, Zagreb, Croatia

Company Credits

Production Co:

Croatia Film, Jadran Film

Technical Specs

Runtime:

80 min

Sound Mix:

Mono

Color:

Color (Eastmancolor)

User Reviews

Obscure and minor but still fun Slavic horror

A strange film this, this Invasion of the Bodysnatchers aping affair from Soviet era Yugoslavia. Quite pointed in its criticisms, its notion of poverty and decay giving rise to seductive, destructive, downright monstrous collectivism. And a new movement not just monstrous but ah!, shock horror! decadent also. Seems to have survived intact though, I guess the censor must have been sleeping on the job or else just passed it through as a moonshine delusion (being as how its fairly weird and all). So for a plot, a homeless writer takes refuge in an abandoned hotel and spies a party of rat people, if this weren't unnerving enough they plan to kill the father of the winsome lass on whom his sights are set. So they come together, trying to come up with a rat person poison whilst eluding infection themselves. To be honest stripped from context this is actually pretty mundane stuff, but well arranged, it wraps about the attention like some piece of anthology science fiction, with the same sort of pattern of minor jolts building to stronger, risings and fallings to an ending of suitable ambiguity. There's suspicion in the outset that all may be delusion, and so a two pronged potential, evil as delusion superimposed on order, or perhaps order itself as a manner of madness. This leads to little though, the film generally evades attempts to not be taken as literal narrative (even if it is allegory). Still, as a time filling science fiction curio this hits enough of the right beats. Ivica Vidovic is a solid enough hero, run down and freaked out but well capable of handling himself in crisis, and he has able support from Fabijab Sovagovic as a helpful elderly scientist and Mirjana Majurec bears pleasing wisps of light and charm as his lovely daughter. There's some restrained but creepy effects work though little actual violence to speak of and the full fledged creature design towards the end is a little silly and too blatantly shown. Real live rats provide some discreet but effective chills too and work well with the cluttered, grimy setting. Creepy crawling score does well for the atmosphere too. Not really enough here for a hearty endorsement, but for those that like to scurry in the dark, scamper in the obscure this is certainly watchable enough. Solid 5/10.