Product: The Devil Bat (1941)
Rating: 3.0
Bela Lugosi and the Killer After-shave
People in this movie frequently say to kindly Dr. Carruthers (Bela Lugosi), "Good night, Doctor." To which the good doctor sadly replies, "Goodbye." Why he is sad is puzzling. After all, he is the one who is sending everybody out into the night wearing his deadly fragrance invention that lures a huge killer bat. Our furry nocturnal friend just hates the shaving lotion, and attacks anything that carries the scent. Bela is mad at his employers because they are making money out the spray bottle on his lab work in their cosmetics and fragrance business. His resentment has unhinged his mind, and the kindly doctor has become the mad scientist. Bela changes a common bat into an uncommon monster with Frankenstein-like shock treatments.As Bela Lugosi's poverty row films go, this one is tolerable. The special effects consist of a huge rubber bat that swoops through the air and attacks victims as if it was a "Charlie Brown" type kite with an attitude. The acting, dialogue, casting, etc. are typically low budget. Don't expect great cinematic art, and you will do fine with this chiller-thriller. ;-)