This movie offers plenty of fun for lovers of murder mysteries set in spooky old houses. All the ingredients are here: an isolated old mansion in the country, frightened servants, rumors about the return of an unknown killer calling himself the Bat, missing bank money, suspicious characters, a stormy night, and murder victims galore.
Vincent Price has one of his best roles as a cryptic doctor who conducts bizarre experiments with bats in his laboratory. His sly, politely insulting verbal duels with stern police Detective Anderson, ( Gavin Gordon) are a delight, as the two men exchange thinly veiled hostile remarks, with Anderson all but accusing Dr. Wells openly of being the Bat, something that seems to amuse the doctor no end.
Agnes Moorehead is obviously enjoying herself as the doughty mystery writer investigating a real crime, with the aid of her skeptical maid, Lenita Lane.Most of the rest of the cast is fairly bland, but a fair amount of suspense is worked up, as the homicidal villain searches the old house for what he's after, and the plucky heroines plot to trap him.
This is no classic, but it's quite enjoyable. Price basically steals the show with his sly portrayal of the suave, ambiguous Doctor Wells.
Vincent Price has one of his best roles as a cryptic doctor who conducts bizarre experiments with bats in his laboratory. His sly, politely insulting verbal duels with stern police Detective Anderson, ( Gavin Gordon) are a delight, as the two men exchange thinly veiled hostile remarks, with Anderson all but accusing Dr. Wells openly of being the Bat, something that seems to amuse the doctor no end.
Agnes Moorehead is obviously enjoying herself as the doughty mystery writer investigating a real crime, with the aid of her skeptical maid, Lenita Lane.Most of the rest of the cast is fairly bland, but a fair amount of suspense is worked up, as the homicidal villain searches the old house for what he's after, and the plucky heroines plot to trap him.
This is no classic, but it's quite enjoyable. Price basically steals the show with his sly portrayal of the suave, ambiguous Doctor Wells.