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The Bat People (1974) - Blu-ray Review

3 beersBecause even a natural born talent as wicked smart as Stanley "Stan" Winston’s has to start somewhere.  That’s why this drive-in flick, originally distributed by American International Pictures, continues to be resurrected from time to time. 

Playing a huge game of “What If?” with familiar genre patterns, The Bat People (aka It Lives at Night) is an entirely interesting combination of hairy beasties.  We’re not talking once bitten, twice shy here.  No.  With this horror offering, a man – pricked by a bat’s teeth on his forehead – swiftly takes flight as a winged mammal (of the order of the Chiroptera) and murders his way to the top of the nocturnal food chain.

The Bat People, for the record, is not nearly as bad as critics have suggested.  It barely registers over at Rotten Tomatoes and damn near every critic suggests it’s a flaming pile of shit.  It is not and, as it is the movie where special effects wizard Stan Winston cut his teeth, perhaps is due for some new considerations.   Scream Factory’s release of the movie on 1080p with a new HD master will certainly aid in its continued appreciation.

Director Jerry Jameson (Airport '77, Raise The Titanic) filmed this horror movie on location in New Mexico.  His direction – when he’s not instructing his lead to roll his eyes into the back of his head or pushing angry bat images at us – is pretty basic.  It’s not hard to see that the film is saved by the television and film special make-up effects guru working behind the scenes to transform a human into a webbed-wing mammal.  Winston’s creature designs are pretty gnarly, if a bit simplistic due to budgetary restrictions. 

Starring Stewart Moss (from Doctor Death: Seeker of Souls) and his real life wife, Marianne McAndrew (The Seven Minutes), as Dr. Beck and Cathy, a recently married couple who decide to put cave exploration before skiing on their first vacation, The Bat People is reason enough as to why you should never sneak off from a cave tour group to go shag in the damp darkness of underground dwellings.  No matter if you are married or not, cave copulation is a bad idea.  Pillared stalagmites are not meant to withstand major pelvic thrusting. 

The couple winds up getting attacked by some badass bats they’ve disturbed and, as they are quite a ways away from their tour group, get trapped in the cave, needing a rescue before rejoining the group and finishing their tour…because they paid for it, so why not finish?  But their underground adventure is only just beginning of this nocturnal thriller.  Later that day on the slopes, Dr. Beck’s eyes roll up into the back of his head and, as he is bombarded with images about bats and running from attacking bats, he passes out.  Rabies or not, whatever has bitten him is changing him into something very disturbing.

He is soon to begin an unexpected transformation.  Even his wife, caught enjoying the pleasures of her man as he turns into a bat after they arrive home from the vacation, gets involved in the hot action.  The face she sees looking down at her is not one she expected!  Murders are happening with each bat-dream he has.  No one is safe.  Not even his wife and so he flees.  With Michael Pataki as the pesky cop tailing Dr. Bent around town, The Bat People earns its stripes with its proclamation of just how vampires come into existence. 

Giving new meaning to a honeymoon, The Bat People takes flight once again!

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The Bat People (1974) - Blu-ray Review

MPAA Rating: PG.
Runtime:
91 mins
Director
: Jerry Jameson
Writer:
Lou Shaw
Cast:
Stewart Moss, Marianne McAndrew, Michael Pataki
Genre
: Horror
Tagline:
After the sun has set and the night wind has died comes the hour of the bat people!
Memorable Movie Quote: "That's me: Jack-of-all-thoughts and master of none."
Theatrical Distributor:
American International Pictures
Official Site:
Release Date:
January 30, 1974
DVD/Blu-ray Release Date:
July 18, 2017
Synopsis: When Dr. John Beck and his wife Cathy fall into an underground cave, a huge bat attacks them, biting the good doctor. Thinking it's only a scratch, Beck avoids treatment, and soon wakes to find himself transformed into a horrifying man-bat creature! Now one with the night, Beck embarks on a killing spree to conceal what he's become, and he won't stop until he once again has the one thing his new existence is missing ... his beautiful wife! This monster chiller stars real-life couple, Stewart Moss and Marianne McAndrew

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The Bat People (1974) - Blu-ray Review

Blu-ray

Blu-ray Details:

Home Video Distributor: Shout Factory
Available on Blu-ray
- July 18, 2017
Screen Formats: 1.85:1
Subtitles
: English
Audio:

Discs: Blu-ray Disc; single disc
Region Encoding: Locked to Region A

The Bat People arrives on 1080p with its original 1.85:1 aspect ratio.  It’s another solid release from Scream Factory, who also provides the film with an English DTS-HD Master Audio 2.0 track.  It looks like the new high-definition transfer has been culled from the best surviving print of the film and it shows with more depth of field and a lack of dullness in some of the shots. The black levels are a bit wavering and shadows become crushing at some parts.  Skin tones are pale and colors are a bit muted.  Overall, a good upgrade of the movie that its fans will appreciate.

Supplements:

Commentary:

  • None

Special Features:

Mike, Crow and Tom from “MST3000” are included in the supplemental material as they poke fun at the movie and its wardrobe in a season 10 episode of the show.  Please note that this is not the full episode, but merely a “best bits” recap.  Also included are two theatrical trailers and a still gallery.

  • Mystery Science Theater 3000 Episode
  • Theatrical Trailers
  • Still Gallery

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The Bat People (1974) - Blu-ray Review

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