The Bat People

The Bat People is a 1974 American horror film directed by Jerry Jameson, produced by Lou Shaw, and distributed by American International Pictures. Starring Stewart Moss and Marianne McAndrew, the film tells the story of a doctor, who after being bitten by a bat in a cave, undergoes an accelerating transformation into a man-bat creature.

The Bat People is also known by two alternative titles: It Lives By Night and It's Alive. The film was lampooned in a 1999 episode of Mystery Science Theater 3000.

Plot
Dr. John Beck, recently married, decides to take his wife, Cathy, spelunking in Carlsbad Caverns for their honeymoon. While they're on a tour, the couple gets lost in the bat cave. Dr. Beck, who specializes in bats, is bitten by a fruit bat. He then inexplicably begins to transform into a vampire bat. He visits a doctor who attempts to help his condition. Unfortunately the doctor's treatment does not seem to be working. In fact, it is aggravating his condition. As he begins to transform, Dr. Beck unwittingly goes on a killing spree, catching the attention of the cruel Sergeant Ward. The doctor begins to wonder if Dr. Beck is just imagining everything, and suggests that he seek a psychiatrist. Beck returns to the original cave to seek solace. In the end, Cathy becomes a vampire (after having sex with Beck) and rejoins her husband in the bat cave.

Cast

 * Stewart Moss as Dr. John Beck
 * Marianne McAndrew as Cathy Beck
 * Michael Pataki as Sgt. Ward
 * Paul Carr as Dr. Kipling
 * Arthur Space as the Tramp
 * Robert Berk as the Motel Owner
 * Pat Delaney as Ms. Jax
 * George Paulsin as Boy in Pickup
 * Bonnie Van Dyke as Girl in Pickup
 * Jennifer Kulik as Nurse/Victim (credited as Jeni Kulik)
 * Laurie Brooks Jefferson as Nurse
 * Herb Pierce as Park Ranger (Uncredited)

Theatrical release
The film performed poorly at the box office.

Home media
The film was released on DVD by MGM as a double feature with The Beast Within on September 11, 2007. It was later released by Shout! Factory as a 4-film horror set on April 15, 2014. Shout! Factory released the film for the first time on Blu-ray on July 18, 2017.

Reception
The Bat People was widely panned by critics.

Dave Sindelar, on his website Fantastic Movie Musings and Ramblings gave the film a negative review, calling it "forgettable". In his review of the film, Sindelar criticized the film's "leisurely pace", overuse of close-ups, and conclusion. VideoHound's Golden Movie Retriever awarded the film one out of four bones, calling it "[a] Less-than-gripping horror flick". TV Guide awarded the film two out of five stars, commending the films special effects but criticizing the film's script and "mediocre" acting. The Terror Trap gave the film 2/4 stars, writing, "this 1974 drive-in horror boasts some beautiful snowy vistas and picturesque desert landscapes. But that's not enough to save it from being overly sleepy, and poorly paced."

Mystery Science Theater 3000

 * Episode guide: 1010- IT Lives By Night
 * Episode guide: 1010- IT Lives By Night