“Bats 1999” is a horror movie about genetically modified bats that go on a killing spree in a small Texas town. The bats are like flying death machines, with razor-sharp teeth and a thirst for blood. A team of experts, including a bat specialist and a sheriff, try to contain the bat invasion before it’s too late. The townspeople are trapped in their homes like prisoners while the bats ravage them relentlessly. In the end, the heroes must use all their wits and skills to put an end to the deadly creatures before they destroy everything in their path.
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Review
In the early days of cinema, horror movies weren’t what they are today. They were more of a fantasy, a way to entertain and scare an audience with unusual creatures or atmospheric settings. But in 1999, there was a movie that tried to change the rules of the genre: “Bats.”
Directed by Louis Morneau and starring Lou Diamond Phillips, “Bats” is a creature feature about genetically-engineered bats that become violent and start killing people in the small town of Gallup, Texas. The film had a modest budget of $5 million and was released by Destination Films.
The storyline is simple: Dr. Sheila Casper (Dina Meyer) brings a team to Gallup to study the effects of her genetically-engineered bats on their natural counterparts. But her experiment goes wrong when the bats escape from their lab and start attacking people, leaving Sheriff Emmett Kimsey (Lou Diamond Phillips) struggling to contain the situation.
Despite its flaws, “Bats” manages to be an entertaining film thanks to its fast pace, good special effects, and performances by Lou Diamond Phillips and Dina Meyer. It’s also worth noting that one of the screenwriters was John Logan, who would go on to write films like “Gladiator” and “Hugo.”
But “Bats” wasn’t received well by critics or audiences. Rotten Tomatoes gave it a 15% approval rating, while Roger Ebert called it “an inferior thriller.” It only made $10 million at the box office and quickly became forgotten.
However, there is something intriguing about “Bats,” something that makes it worth revisiting after all these years.
For starters, there’s its message about genetic engineering. In 1999, when the film was released, genetic engineering was still in its early stages but already raising ethical questions in society. “Bats” takes this issue and represents it through its titular creatures: genetically-engineered bats that are more aggressive and dangerous than their natural counterparts.
But the film also touches on themes of responsibility, as Dr. Casper struggles with the consequences of her experiment. In a way, “Bats” is a cautionary tale about the dangers of playing God with nature.
Of course, none of these themes would work without the bats themselves. In “Bats,” the filmmakers made a conscious effort to create realistic-looking creatures using a mix of animatronics and CGI. The result is impressive for its time, with the bats managing to look both convincing and frightening.
And while Lou Diamond Phillips isn’t known for his horror roles, he delivers a solid performance as Sheriff Kimsey, bringing both authority and vulnerability to his character. Dina Meyer is also good as Dr. Casper, conveying both intelligence and regret.
But perhaps what makes “Bats” memorable is its commitment to being a horror movie. From the opening scene of a bat attacking a man in his car to the blood-soaked climax in a cave full of bats, “Bats” doesn’t hold back on its violence or scares.
There’s even one scene where a bat crashes through a windshield during a car chase that’s surprisingly effective for its simplicity.
Of course, “Bats” isn’t perfect. The script is sometimes clunky, and some scenes are cheesy or implausible (like when Kimsey jumps onto an airplane mid-flight). But it’s hard not to appreciate its earnestness and willingness to try something different in a genre that was becoming too formulaic at the time.
In short, “Bats” may not be a classic horror movie, but it’s definitely worth checking out for fans of creature features or anyone curious about how genetic engineering was portrayed in pop culture at the turn of the century. It may not have been successful when it came out, but like its titular creatures, “Bats” has managed to survive and even thrive in its own way.
Technical Data
- Runtime : 91
- Release : 1999-10-22
- Genre : Horror, Thriller, Science Fiction
- Cast : Lou Diamond Phillips as Sheriff Emmett Kimsey, Dina Meyer as Dr. Sheila Casper, Bob Gunton as Dr. Alexander McCabe, Leon as Jimmy Sands, Carlos Jacott as Dr. Tobe Hodge
- Crew : John Logan as Screenplay, Michael Payne as ADR Supervisor, Graeme Revell as Original Music Composer, Carmel Davies as Assistant Editor, Bob Ducsay as Additional Editor
- Popularity 9.392
- Budget : $5,250,000
- Revenue : $10,155,690
- Company : Destination Films
- Summary : Genetically mutated bats escape and it’s up to a bat expert and the local sheriff to stop them.
- Tagline : They will suck you dry
