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?

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Plot Keywords:

mad scientist | texas | small town | sheriff | bat | 

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Taglines:

Where can you hide?

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Genres:

Horror | Sci-Fi | Thriller

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Motion Picture Rating (MPAA)

Rated PG-13 for intense sequences of bat attacks, and brief language

Did You Know?

Trivia

The appearance of the bats of the film is inspired by the Bat of the Paraguaná peninsula, one of the six species of bats that inhabit the Jacuque cave of Paraguaná, Venezuela. The special effects assistant chose this species to create the creatures of the film while investigating the bats.

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Goofs

When the Sheriff is smoking on the bridge, the position of the cigar is constantly changing.

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Quotes

Jimmy Sands: There. Now it's securer than the god damn Alamo.
Sheriff Emmett Kimsey: Bad example there Jimmy.

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Alternate Versions

The R-rated Region 1 DVD features bloodier and more graphic attacks from the bats than in the PG-13 theatrical, video and cable versions.

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Connections

References Apollo 13 (1995)

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Soundtracks

If Love Is A Red Dress (Hang Me In Rags)
Performed by Maria McKee
Written by Maria McKee

User Reviews

Nice chiller starred by flying foxes , fast-paced , and well directed by Morneau

Absolutely surprising carnivorous bats tale , derived from abysmal story . The film starts in Skull Valley , Arizona, where the scientific Casper (Dina Meyer) and his assistant Jimmy (Leon) are investigating about bats . They're brought by a government scientist (Bob Gunton) to a small town called Callup , in Texas . There appears a pack of carnivorous bats that prey on citizens , terrorizing the small community . The chiroptera specialist Casper , his helper , along with a policeman (Lou Diamond Phillips) attempt to stop the genetically altered flying foxes before the military comes into action , bombing the caves.

This is a slam-bang chiller about flying foxes , full of scares and lots of blood and gore . It delivers the goods with suspense , tension and hair-raising chills ; plus , the astonishing special effects of this nature , as the ferocious bats seem alive . It's an eerily effective thriller , quite entertaining , though many will undoubtedly find repulsive when the bats attack and eat their victims . The tale can't bear such close scrutiny , but while this thrills ride is going, you won't mind . With a final budget of 5.25 million, the film went on to gross well over 30 million worldwide in theatrical , DVD , Digital and Television sales . Although considered somewhat unsuccessful at the time, the film recouped its entire budget during its first week of release . The vampire bats are splendidly made by means of Animatronics in charge of Robert Zurtzman , Greg Nicotero and Howard Berger . The bats in the film were a combination of Animatronics, CGI , and 2 live bats. The 2 original bats in the film were brought over from Indonesia . The acting is uneven , an attractive Dina Meyer , Lou Diamond Phillips as the patrolman who along with the scientific facing off the creepy bats and killing them in their caves . Bob Gunton is an oddball baddie acting as a mad doctor and the comic relief in charge of Leon .

Interesting screenplay by John Logan , today writer for blockbusters (Aviator , Last Samurai , Star Trek : nemesis , Time machine) . Produced in just under 6 months , the picture continues to hold one of the top spots for fastest produced 35mm feature films to receive a wide-release . The motion picture was well directed by Louis Morneau , in his best movie . He's a B series director, with no much success (Hitcher 2 , Retroactive , Quake , Soldier Boyz , Carnosaur 2). With similar premise , ten years earlier (79) was shot the movie titled ¨Nightwing¨¨ directed by Arthur Hiller with Nick Mancuso , David Warner and Kathryn Harrold , but it was a flop, this one is a superior film .

Details

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Release Date:

22 October 1999 (USA)

Also Known As:

Blood Moon

Filming Locations:

American Fork, Utah, USA

Box Office

Budget:

$5,250,000 (estimated)

Opening Weekend USA:

$4,717,902, 24 October 1999

Gross USA:

$10,155,690

Cumulative Worldwide Gross:

$10,155,690

Company Credits

Production Co:

Destination Films

Technical Specs

Runtime:

91 min

Sound Mix:

Dolby Digital EX DTS-ES DTS SDDS Dolby Digital

Color:

Color (Technicolor)

Aspect Ratio:

2.39 : 1