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Horror Cult Classic

Vacation, marriage, and medical science collide in this 1970s man-bat mutation odyssey.

THE BAT PEOPLE

After the sun has set and the night wind has died comes the hour of the bat people!

1974 · 1h 35m · PG · Horror / Romance · IMDB TMDB

After being bitten by a bat in a cave, a doctor undergoes an accelerating transformation into a man-bat, which ruins his vacation and causes considerable distress for his wife.

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Vault Note

Proof that not every honeymoon needs a travel agent—sometimes all you need is a fruit bat.

Programmer's Pick

Nothing says 'romance' like a honeymoon gone awry with a side of body horror. The Bat People serves up psychotronic creature-feature weirdness as Stewart Moss mutates from vacationing doctor to desert-dwelling man-beast, and Michael Pataki brings grindhouse energy as the suspicious Sergeant Ward.

— SassyFlix Programmer
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Quick Answer
What is The Bat People about?

The Bat People is a 1974 American horror-romance film directed by Jerry Jameson about a doctor who, after being bitten by a bat during a honeymoon cave trip, transforms into a man-bat with deadly consequences.

Details & Specs
Director
Jerry Jameson
Writer
Lou Shaw
Release
1974
Runtime
1h 35m
Country
United States of America
Language
English
Genres
Horror, Romance
Also Known As
It Lives by Night, Winged Death

Synopsis

Dr. John Beck, recently married, decides to take his wife, Cathy, spelunking in Carlsbad Cavern. While there, Dr. Beck, who specializes in bats, is bitten by a fruit bat. He is then, inexplicably, transformed into a vampire bat. While he escapes and seeks help from another doctor, it is clear the treatments are not working. In fact, they are aggravating his condition. Dr. Beck unwittingly goes on a killing spree, catching the attention of Sergeant Ward.

Why Cult

Man-Bat Mutation

Witness a slow-burn transformation as Dr. Beck grapples with becoming a literal bat-man after a fateful cave bite.

Honeymoon Horror

A newlywed couple's spelunking trip devolves into a nightmare, blending marital drama with monster mayhem.

1970s Psychotronic Vibe

This grindhouse oddity delivers a distinctly '70s blend of body horror, medical mishaps, and desert weirdness.

Creature Feature Roots

Classic animal-attack and mutant-monster elements make this a must for fans of vintage creature features.

Cast & Crew

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Director: Jerry Jameson Writer: Lou Shaw
Stewart Moss Stewart Moss Dr. John Beck Marianne McAndrew Marianne McAndrew Cathy Beck Michael Pataki Michael Pataki Sergeant Ward Paul Carr Paul Carr Dr. Kipling Arthur Space Arthur Space Tramp RB Robert Berk Motel Owner Pat Delaney Pat Delaney Ms. Jax

Scene Gallery

Trailers & Clips

Questions from the Vault

What is The Bat People about? +

It's about a doctor who, after being bitten by a bat during a cave honeymoon, transforms into a man-bat and spirals into violence.

When was The Bat People released? +

The Bat People was released in 1974.

Who directed The Bat People? +

The Bat People was directed by Jerry Jameson.

How long is The Bat People? +

The Bat People has a runtime of 95 minutes.

What genre is The Bat People? +

The Bat People is a horror and romance film.

Where can I watch The Bat People? +

You can watch The Bat People on SassyFlix.

Themes & Keywords