Devil Bat (1940) | VHS | USED

Title: The Devil Bat (1940)

Genre: Horror, Science Fiction

Plot Synopsis:

In a quiet small town, a brilliant but unhinged chemist named Dr. Paul Carruthers creates a unique breed of giant bats trained to attack anyone wearing a specific aftershave he developed. Under the guise of conducting fragrance experiments, Carruthers uses this concoction to seek revenge against the wealthy employers who he believes cheated him out of financial success. As bodies begin to pile up, a tenacious reporter and his photographer set out to uncover the sinister plot behind the bizarre killings.

Cast and Crew:

• Director: Jean Yarbrough

• Writers: George Bricker, John T. Neville

• Cast:

  • Bela Lugosi as Dr. Paul Carruthers

  • Suzanne Kaaren as Mary Heath

  • Dave O’Brien as Johnny Layton

  • Guy Usher as Henry Morton

  • Donald Kerr as “One-Shot” McGuire

IMDb Link: The Devil Bat (1940) 

Reviews from Letterboxd

1. Justin Decloux – ★★★☆☆
   “Bela Lugosi clearly having a blast. The film is cheap and fast but has a certain spooky charm that only Poverty Row could give you.”

2. Holliehocks – ★★★☆☆
   “I love how casual Lugosi is about everything. ‘Would you mind trying this lotion?’ unleashes the bat.“

3. sydney – ★★★☆☆
   “Cheap, silly, and filled with stock footage bats. But I’ll be damned if Bela Lugosi doesn’t command the screen with his hypnotic presence.”

4. 3rdPersonNarrative – ★★★☆☆
   “A delightful piece of schlock. A mad scientist and killer bats? What more do you need on a rainy afternoon?”

5. torontodude – ★★★☆☆
   “This movie is 68 minutes of pure Lugosi. The man could make a phone book eerie. It’s goofy fun and never outstays its welcome.”

Meta Description:
The Devil Bat (1940) stars Bela Lugosi as a mad scientist who unleashes giant bats on his enemies. This black-and-white horror gem combines vintage chills with campy thrills in a classic tale of revenge and madness.