Who knew the thing had a daughter? Wait, "The Devil Bat" was a mad scientist, experimenting with cell-growth stimulation...on bats. The bats got loose, killed him, and many others. Could have happened to any of us who have laboratories in our homes. Could a sultry dame, helpless and vulnerable, also be a murderer? Our feature today is 1946's "Devil Bat's Daughter," directed by Frank Wisbar.
Devil Bat's daughter, Nina (Rosemary La Planche), has arrived from Europe after missing out on all the festivities. Her dad was killed by the bats he gave his cell-growth stimulant to, as were a whole bunch of other people. She goes home to see her dad and finds out he's long dead and the mansion is in ruins. Now she's catatonic and the esteemed psychiatrist Dr. Clifton Morris will treat her. Oh, Clifton is a sly operator and has an affair going with his wife's bestie, Myra (Monica Mars). She's a doll. Clifton's wife? Ellen (Molly Lamont) is hardly as exciting nor glamorous as Myra. Okay, Ellen takes a liking to the catatonic Nina and when Nina begins responding to Clifton's treatment, Ellen insists she stay at their house instead of the hospital. There, Clifton can treat the scared Nina for nightmares and hallucinations. Nina keeps dreaming about big bats attacking. Clifton keeps giving her pills...guess what's in the pills. Here comes the hunk Ted (John James). Ted is a soldier on leave and Ellen is his mom, and Clifton is his stepdad. Ted always thought Clifton married Ellen for her money.
Okay, Ted and Nina fall in love. Today we have apps for that, back in 1946 we had catatonic trances and helplessness. We've come a long way. Uh oh...Clifton and Myra want to elope but Ellen is in the way. Then Ted's dog is murdered...then Ellen. Nina, who is having blackout spells, hallucinations, and a dad who was a mad scientist murderer is arrested. Ted, who loves Nina is convinced she is not the killer. He's the only one who thinks that as even Nina believes she is a killer. Ted has a plan and it calls for him to get to know Nina's dad (who is dead), his experiments, and to find the experiment notes of The Devil Bat.
Just what of The Devil Bat's failed experiments on cell-growth stimulation can help Ted prove Nina's innocence? Any chance of Myra being turned into a big bat? Can Ted prove Clifton murdered his mother, thus saving Nina from the electric chair? This is a terrific B horror film with fine looking dames and a hunk hero. For a nice Friday night creature feature, with big bats, and homicidal maniacs, see "Devil Bat's Daughter."
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