A mad scientist as a lead chemist at a cosmetics company? Brilliant! Perhaps a story for our time as the cosmetics industry is solidly cemented into the fabric of women's daily routines throughout the world. The market doubles when men are involved, and some use aftershave lotion like Hai Karate or Brut. In our film today, Bela Lugosi exploits human vanity and uses it as a means for murder. Our feature today is 1940's "The Devil Bat," directed by Jean Yarbrough.
Dr. Paul Carruthers (Lugosi) is the chemist for the Martin Heath Cosmetics Company. The founding partners, Martin heath (Edmund Mortimer) and Henry Morton (Guy Usher) made millions on a cold cream invented by Paul, but only gave him a measly few thousand dollars. Feeling cheated, Paul invents an aftershave that attracts monster bats. Monster bats? Yep, Paul does other experiments. Using electricity he stimulates the growth glands of bats making them 10 times their usual size. He also makes them behave viciously when smelling the aftershave. At risk is the entire Heath and Morton families. Paul gives several members of those families the aftershave as a gift, and they all get their necks torn out by the monster bat. A reporter, Johnny (Dave O'Brien), arrives to investigate the murders and immediately falls for the Heath daughter, Mary (Suzanne Kaaren). Of more importance is Johnny's photographer, One-Shot (Donald Kerr) who falls for the Heath's French maid, Maxine (Yolande Donlan).
Maxine is quite a sultry dame, especially in her French maid's costume. One-Shot takes some alluring pics of her. Back to the story. The cops are mystified as no one wants to believe a monster bat is committing the murders even though Mary witnessed one of them. Even worse, everyone in town trusts Dr. Carruthers . Johnny isn't from town, however, and is immediately suspicious of the doctor. As Dr. Carruthers continues giving out his version of Hai Karate more and more people end up with their necks ripped out. Johnny and One-Shot seek to protect Mary and the nubile and sultry Maxine. Now Dr. Carruthers understands that Johnny is a threat to him, and that Mary, being a Heath, must be murdered. Dr. Carruthers makes more giant bats, and Johnny comes up with a plan.
Will Maxine and Mary, the servant and the lady of the house, end up in a catfight which will serve as a metaphor for class struggle? No, of course not, this is a Bela Lugosi horror film! Will Johnny be able to save Mary from the fangs of the giant bat? Will Dr. Carruthers escape justice and finish his quest for revenge against the two wealthy families? This is a good one and often overshadowed by more well known films done by Bela Lugosi. For some nice horror, allure, and creepy sets, see "The Devil Bat."
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