Bats (1999)

Genetically mutated bats escape and it's up to a bat expert and the local sheriff to stop them.

Director:

Louis Morneau

Writer:

John Logan

Stars:

Lou Diamond Phillips, Dina Meyer, Bob Gunton

Cast

Complete credited cast:
Lou Diamond Phillips	...	Sheriff Emmett Kimsey
Dina Meyer	...	Dr. Sheila Casper
Bob Gunton	...	Dr. Alexander McCabe
Leon	...	Jimmy Sands
Carlos Jacott	...	Dr. Tobe Hodge
David McConnell	...	Deputy Wesley Munn (as David Shawn McConell)
Marcia Dangerfield	...	Mayor Amanda Branson
Oscar Rowland	...	Dr. Swanbeck
Tim Whitaker	...	Quint
Juliana Johnson	...	Emma
James Sie	...	Sergeant James
Ned Bellamy	...	Major Reid
George Gerdes	...	Chaswick
Kurt Woodruff	...	Major #2
Joel Farar	...	Bartender

Storyline

Bats, the result of a government experiment gone wrong, have suddenly become intelligent, vicious, and omnivorous, and are attacking people near Gallup, Texas. Bat specialist Sheila Casper and her assistant Jimmy are brought in but can they stop the bats before the military comes in and, in their ignorance, makes things worse?

---

Plot Keywords:

bat | experiment | mad scientist | sliced in two | closed mine | 

---

Taglines:

You're their inflight snack

---

Genres:

Horror | Sci-Fi | Thriller

---

Motion Picture Rating (MPAA)

Rated R for some graphic, bloody bat attacks

Details

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Release Date:

22 October 1999 (USA)

Also Known As:

Murciélagos

Filming Locations:

American Fork, Utah, USA

Box Office

Budget:

$6,500,000 (estimated)

Opening Weekend:

$4,717,902 (USA) (22 October 1999)

Gross:

$10,149,779 (USA) (10 December 1999)

Company Credits

Production Co:

Destination Films

Technical Specs

Runtime:

91 min

Sound Mix:

DTS-ES Dolby Digital EX

Color:

Color (Technicolor)

Aspect Ratio:

2.35 : 1

Did You Know?

Trivia

The original two bats in the film were brought from Indonesia.

---

Goofs

After Sheila and the Sheriff are attacked by the bats in the car, they get out and Sheila closes the car door. In the next shot the door is open.

---

Quotes

Sheriff Emmett Kimsey: Are you kidding me? I am not up to my chest in bat shit.

---

Connections

Followed by Bats: Human Harvest (2007)

---

Soundtracks

"One Less Fool"
Performed by The Souvenirs

User Reviews

This Is NOT As Bad As Critics Say!

As usual, I find myself on the opposing side of the critics. This movie has NO BUSINESS in the bottom 100 here at IMDb! It's FAR from a masterpiece, but it's also just as far from deserving that low a rating.

As is often the case, whenever you have a good monster/creature feature, lurking somewhere in the shadows is a mad scientist. Such is the case in this film. In fact, I found the mad scientist a tad too mad. I think that is the main contributor to the low ratings this movie receives here at IMDb. The "doctor's" performance went WAY over the top. Well, he's supposed to be insane, but he plays it like pure camp, and that's horribly out of place in this otherwise serious work concerning a lab experiment gone awry...or has it?

The animated/CGI bats are well done, and all performances besides the doctor are enjoyable and on target. Unfortunately, he was bad enough to have brought down the whole film.

This is fun, generates some good suspense, and isn't afraid to show you the nemesis. The story itself is quite competent to hold up, and does, IF you can ignore the wretched performance given by Bob Gunton. I must say that I do not believe it to be wholly his fault, as he has given some great performances in the past, and since. The fault must lie with the director, Louis Morneau, who has never done much of note.

I like this film and can enjoy it, in spite of the doctor, and do find myself watching it from time to time.

It rates a 6.8/10 from...

the Fiend :.