The Hot Spot Rating
Bat, The (1959)
Starring: Vincent Price, Agnes Moorhead, Gavin Gordon, Lenita Lane
Director: Crane Wilbur
Synopsis: Vintage, old-fashioned mystery whodunit is a gas and about as scary as an episode of Scooby Doo!
“old fashioned concepts” Creature Features
“faithful adaptaion” Blockbuster VIdeo
“faithful filming” Maltin’s
“A surprisingly clever, funny little film.” — Suddenly, A Shot Rang Out
“More than enough here to entertain whodunit fans.” — AllMovie (quoted via Wikipedia)
“A taut, suspenseful story.” — IMDb user review
“Agnes Moorehead shows plenty of spunk.” — IMDb user review
“A juicy thunderstorm-and-lightning chiller with theatricality to spare.” — TCM
“Good, snappy performance.” — The New York Times on Agnes Moorehead
“Dynamic, captivating and well written.” — UK Film Review
“The performances are spot on throughout.” — Suddenly, A Shot Rang Out
“Enjoyable from beginning to end.” — Suddenly, A Shot Rang Out
“A diverting little film.” — Suddenly, A Shot Rang Out
The catchphrase for The Bat — “When it flies… someone dies!” — was enough to lure me into watching this Vincent Price chiller, and thankfully, it didn’t disappoint.
Adapted from the stage mystery and novel by Mary Roberts Rinehart, the film was directed by Crane Wilbur, who had earlier directed Price in another classic, House of Wax. The Bat very much retains the feel of a stage play, and that only adds to its old-world charm and atmosphere.
The story revolves around a notorious criminal known as “The Bat,” named for his eerie black costume, sharp claws, faceless mask, and his gruesome habit of ripping open his victims’ throats. Like several others in the film, The Bat is searching for a hidden stash of money. Into the middle of this intrigue arrives a famous mystery novelist, played magnificently by Agnes Moorehead. Along with her companion, she takes up residence in an old mansion that may well conceal the missing fortune.
Vincent Price plays the local doctor — but could he in fact be the maniacal Bat in disguise? As the body count rises and suspicion falls on almost everyone, time begins to run out. Only Moorehead’s sharp-witted mystery writer seems capable of solving the case, but will she uncover the truth before becoming the Bat’s next victim?
The Bat is thoroughly entertaining stuff. There’s a little bit of everything here: mystery, humour, twists, red herrings, and an ever-growing list of suspects. The performances are spot on throughout. While Price is as suave and enigmatic as ever, it’s Moorehead who truly steals the show with a witty, lively, and immensely likeable performance.
If you’re in the mood for a light-hearted, Scooby-Doo-style whodunit with plenty of gothic atmosphere, you could do far worse than The Bat. But be warned — when it flies… someone dies!
