The main monster movie formula hasn't changed since the 1950s: The pet evil technology of the time (radiation, pollution, germ warfare, genetic engineering) in conjunction with the pet villain of the time (mad scientists, the CIA, right wing militias, evil industrialists) turn some natural creature into a dangerous mutated version of itself. Fighting it is made harder by clueless citizenry, corrupt politicians, and head-in-the-sand bureaucrats. Frequently the good guys are aided by a guilt-wracked insider. In the end, some sound or scent is often used to lure the creatures into one place where they can be destroyed.
The variables are filled, in this entry, by pollution, evil industrialists, vampire bats, and music. Instead of an explosion, they are killed by steam. We don't see much of the insider, who is used mainly to throw the audience off as to which character is a crook.
This movie isn't as silly or heavy-handed as many movies using this formula, plus the acting is better, but the fact remains that you've seen it dozens of times before. (Although the choices of evil technology and favorite villain always result in some reviewer gushing that it was "ripped from the headlines.")
Vampire Bats
2005
Action / Adventure / Horror / Sci-Fi / Thriller
Vampire Bats
2005
Action / Adventure / Horror / Sci-Fi / Thriller
Plot summary
A biology professor discovers a deadly species of vampire bats are responsible for a series of bizarre murders and now she must find a way to stop them before they are completely out of control.
Uploaded by: FREEMAN
October 14, 2021 at 05:44 PM
Director
Top cast
Tech specs
720p.WEB 1080p.WEBMovie Reviews
You've seen it all before.
Surprisingly decent TV movie delivered for the Halloween season of 2005
The dialogue of the college-aged characters towards the beginning of this made for TV film captured my attention. The group, which tended towards the Gothic or nerd type of college stereotype, spoke like real people.
The pacing and editing was above par for a TV movie, and the fact that Lucy Lawless does not age continues to confound me.
I Tivoed this movie, and because of the Sunday time-shifts from the afternoon NFL games, I missed the last 15 minutes of the film. I hope to catch it the next time it is run. Ideally, I will not have to wait until next Halloween.
This movie, with a little more money and the proper advertising, could have been an acceptable movie theatre offering. OK, maybe another A/B list lead to counter Lucy Lawless would be necessary, but the basics of an intelligent, somewhat thought-provoking movie are firmly in place with Vampire Bats.