The Bat People

The Bat People
The Bat People
	Theatrical release poster
Directed by	Jerry Jameson
Written by	Lou Shaw
Produced by	Lou Shaw
Starring	Stewart Moss; Marianne McAndrew; Michael Pataki; Paul Carr; Arthur Space;
Cinematography	Matthew F. Leonetti
Edited by	Tom Stevens
Music by	Artie Kane
Production; company	American International Pictures
Distributed by	American International Pictures
Release date	January 30, 1974;
Running time	95 minutes
Country	United States
Language	English

The Bat People is a 1974 American horror film directed by Jerry Jameson, produced by Lou Shaw, and distributed by American International Pictures. Starring Stewart Moss and Marianne McAndrew, the film tells the story of a doctor, who after being bitten by a bat in a cave, undergoes an accelerating transformation into a man-bat creature.

The Bat People is also known by two alternative titles: It Lives By Night and It's Alive.^[1] The film was lampooned in a 1999 episode of Mystery Science Theater 3000.^[2]

Plot

Dr. John Beck, recently married, decides to take his wife, Cathy, spelunking in Carlsbad Caverns for their honeymoon. While they're on a tour, the couple gets lost in the bat cave. Dr. Beck, who specializes in bats, is bitten by a fruit bat. He then inexplicably begins to transform into a vampire bat. He visits a doctor who attempts to help his condition. Unfortunately the doctor's treatment does not seem to be working. In fact, it is aggravating his condition. As he begins to transform, Dr. Beck unwittingly goes on a killing spree, catching the attention of the cruel Sergeant Ward. The doctor begins to wonder if Dr. Beck is just imagining everything, and suggests that he seek a psychiatrist. Beck returns to the original cave to seek solace. In the end, Cathy becomes a vampire (after having sex with Beck) and rejoins her husband in the bat cave.^[3]

Cast

Stewart Moss as Dr. John Beck
Marianne McAndrew as Cathy Beck
Michael Pataki as Sgt. Ward
Paul Carr as Dr. Kipling
Arthur Space as the Tramp
Robert Berk as the Motel Owner
Pat Delaney as Ms. Jax
George Paulsin as Boy in Pickup
Bonnie Van Dyke as Girl in Pickup
Jennifer Kulik as Nurse/Victim (credited as Jeni Kulik)
Laurie Brooks Jefferson as Nurse
Herb Pierce as Park Ranger (Uncredited)

Release

Theatrical release

The film performed poorly at the box office.^[4]

Home media

The film was released on DVD by MGM as a double feature with The Beast Within on September 11, 2007. It was later released by Shout! Factory as a 4-film horror set on April 15, 2014. Shout! Factory released the film for the first time on Blu-ray on July 18, 2017.^[5]

Reception

The Bat People was widely panned by critics.

Dave Sindelar, on his website Fantastic Movie Musings and Ramblings gave the film a negative review, calling it "forgettable". In his review of the film, Sindelar criticized the film's "leisurely pace", overuse of close-ups, and conclusion.^[6] VideoHound's Golden Movie Retriever awarded the film one out of four bones, calling it "[a] Less-than-gripping horror flick".^[7] TV Guide awarded the film two out of five stars, commending the films special effects but criticizing the film's script and "mediocre" acting.^[8] The Terror Trap gave the film 2/4 stars, writing, "this 1974 drive-in horror boasts some beautiful snowy vistas and picturesque desert landscapes. But that's not enough to save it from being overly sleepy, and poorly paced."^[9]

References

^ Gary A. Smith, The American International Pictures Video Guide, McFarland 2009 p. 19
^ "It Lives By Night". Mystery Science Theater 3000. Season 10. Episode 10. July 18, 1999. The Sci-Fi Channel.
^ The Bat People. N.p. Film.
^ Aljean Harmetz (Aug 4, 1974). "The dime-store way to make movies-and money". New York Times. p. 202.
^ "The Bat People (1974) – Jerry Jameson". AllMovie. Retrieved 13 November 2017.
^ Sindelar, Dave (24 September 2017). "The Bat People (1974)". Fantastic Movie Musings.com. Dave Sindelar. Retrieved 24 January 2018.
^ Jim Craddock (2011). VideoHound's Golden Movie Retriever. Gale/Cengage Learning. p. 111. ISBN 978-1-4144-4878-7.
^ "The Bat People – Movie Reviews and Movie Ratings". TV Guide. Retrieved 9 December 2023.
^ "The Bat People (1974)". The Terror Trap. Retrieved 22 July 2018.