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Night of the Lepus

  • 19721972
  • PGPG
  • 1h 28min
IMDb RATING
4.1/10
4.7K
YOUR RATING
  • Cast & crew
  • User reviews
  • Trivia
  • IMDbPro
Night of the Lepus (1972)
Official Trailer
Play trailer1:43
1 Video
55 Photos
HorrorSci-FiThriller

Giant mutant rabbits terrorize the south-west.Giant mutant rabbits terrorize the south-west.Giant mutant rabbits terrorize the south-west.

IMDb RATING
4.1/10
4.7K
YOUR RATING
  • Director
    • William F. Claxton
  • Writers
    • Don Holliday(screenplay)
    • Gene R. Kearney(screenplay)
    • Russell Braddon(novel "The Year of the Angry Rabbit")
  • Stars
    • Stuart Whitman
    • Janet Leigh
    • Rory Calhoun
Top credits
  • Director
    • William F. Claxton
  • Writers
    • Don Holliday(screenplay)
    • Gene R. Kearney(screenplay)
    • Russell Braddon(novel "The Year of the Angry Rabbit")
  • Stars
    • Stuart Whitman
    • Janet Leigh
    • Rory Calhoun
  • See production, box office & company info
    • 150User reviews
    • 117Critic reviews
    • 37Metascore
  • See more at IMDbPro
  • Videos1

    Night of the Lepus
    Trailer 1:43
    Night of the Lepus

    Photos55

    Night of the Lepus (1972)
    DeForest Kelley in Night of the Lepus (1972)
    Janet Leigh, Melanie Fullerton, and Stuart Whitman in Night of the Lepus (1972)
    Rory Calhoun and Stuart Whitman in Night of the Lepus (1972)
    Night of the Lepus (1972)
    DeForest Kelley and Rory Calhoun in Night of the Lepus (1972)
    Night of the Lepus (1972)
    Night of the Lepus (1972)
    Night of the Lepus (1972)
    Francesca Jarvis in Night of the Lepus (1972)
    Francesca Jarvis in Night of the Lepus (1972)
    Night of the Lepus (1972)

    Top cast

    Edit
    Stuart Whitman
    Stuart Whitman
    • Roy Bennettas Roy Bennett
    Janet Leigh
    Janet Leigh
    • Gerry Bennettas Gerry Bennett
    Rory Calhoun
    Rory Calhoun
    • Cole Hillmanas Cole Hillman
    DeForest Kelley
    DeForest Kelley
    • Elgin Clarkas Elgin Clark
    Paul Fix
    Paul Fix
    • Sheriff Codyas Sheriff Cody
    Melanie Fullerton
    Melanie Fullerton
    • Amanda Bennettas Amanda Bennett
    Chris Morrell
    • Jackie Hillmanas Jackie Hillman
    Chuck Hayward
    Chuck Hayward
    • Judas Jud
    Henry Wills
    Henry Wills
    • Frankas Frank
    Francesca Jarvis
    Francesca Jarvis
    • Mildredas Mildred
    William Elliott
    William Elliott
    • Dr. Leopoldas Dr. Leopold
    Bob Hardy
    • Professor Dirksonas Professor Dirkson
    • (as Robert Hardy)
    Richard Jacome
    • Deputy Jasonas Deputy Jason
    Inez Perez
    • Housekeeperas Housekeeper
    Roy Gaintner
    • Walkeras Walker
    • (as G. Leroy Gaintner)
    Evans Thornton
    • Major Whiteas Major White
    I. Stanford Jolley
    I. Stanford Jolley
    • Dispatcheras Dispatcher
    Robert Gooden
    Robert Gooden
    • Leslieas Leslie
    • Director
      • William F. Claxton
    • Writers
      • Don Holliday(screenplay)
      • Gene R. Kearney(screenplay)
      • Russell Braddon(novel "The Year of the Angry Rabbit")
    • All cast & crew
    • See more cast details at IMDbPro

    Storyline

    Edit
    Cole Hillman's Arizona ranch is plagued with 'mongrel' rabbits, and he wants to employ an ecologically sound control method. As a favor to college benefactor Hillman, college president Elgin Clark calls in zoologist Roy Bennett to help. Bennett immediately begins injecting rabbits with hormones and genetically mutated blood in an effort to develop a method of disrupting rabbit reproduction. One of the test subjects escapes, resulting in a race of bloodthirsty, wolf-sized, man-, horse-, and cow-eating bunnies. Eventually the National Guard is called in for a final showdown with the terrorizing rabbits. —Jeff Hole <jeffhole@aol.com>
    giant rabbitmutationrampagekiller rabbitgiant animal97 more
    • Plot summary
    • Plot synopsis
    • Taglines
      • They were born that tragic moment when science made its great mistake... now from behind the shroud of night they come, a scuttling, shambling horde of creatures destroying all in their path.
    • Genres
      • Horror
      • Sci-Fi
      • Thriller
    • Motion Picture Rating (MPAA)
      • PG
    • Parents guide

    Did you know

    Edit
    • Trivia
      Janet Leigh declined to allow her two teenage daughters, Kelly Curtis and Jamie Lee Curtis, to appear in the movie in minor roles, as she did not want them to be part of, or see, a horror film. Ironically, Jamie Lee later broke out as a "scream queen".
    • Goofs
      During one of the scenes of the giant rabbits running down the road, you can see three men on the left. It looks like they are releasing the rabbits so they can run down the miniature road. If your focus is the rabbits you won't notice the men. In another scene a persons hand can be seen sort of hidden by branches (on the lower right). It looks like this person is coaxing some rabbits to move.
    • Quotes

      Officer Lopez: Attention! Attention! Ladies and gentlemen, attention! There is a herd of killer rabbits headed this way and we desperately need your help!

    • Connections
      Featured in The World According to Smith & Jones: Law (1988)

    User reviews150

    Review
    Top review
    7/10
    Cottontails On the Rampage Doesn't Make For A Bad Film!
    OK, I've read several of the reviews/comments for this film and I must stand and be counted as one of the fans of this low-budget film. Sure, the story may be ludicrous and the effects may be bad, but face it, this film doesn't deserve all the bad publicity it always receives. It's got a nice cast and they all seem to be genuine in their efforts to make this film a success, but it does fall short of it's target in several aspects. I'd say the one constant in this film that bothers me the most is the young girl, the daughter of Stuart Whitman and Janet Leigh, I'd have gladly fed her to these rabbits in the first 20 minutes or so, but beyond that, I really don't see all the fuss about how horrible of a film this is. It's definitely an original idea for a horror film and if you ever have the opportunity to view the unedited version, there is a scene or two that's nice and bloody, but it isn't a gore-hound's delight and it won't ever sit high among the classics of horror, but I miss the fact that this used to be a staple on late-night TV when I was a kid and you can't see it at all, these days. For those of you with a curious nature, I'd recommend viewing this film at least once, just so you can be counted among film fans that have watched this killer bunny film...trust me, it won't hurt at all!
    helpful•35
    2
    • ClassixFan
    • Nov 20, 2003

    Details

    Edit
    • Release date
      • October 4, 1972 (United States)
    • Country of origin
      • United States
    • Language
      • English
    • Also known as
      • Rabbits
    • Filming locations
      • Old Tucson - 201 S. Kinney Road, Tucson, Arizona, USA
    • Production company
      • A.C. Lyles Productions
    • See more company credits at IMDbPro

    Box office

    Edit
    • Budget
      • $900,000 (estimated)
    See detailed box office info on IMDbPro

    Technical specs

    Edit
    • Runtime
      • 1h 28min
    • Sound mix
      • Mono
    • Aspect ratio
      • 1.85 : 1

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