Review of The Rats (1997) by Ray D — 02 Feb 2008

I have to admit, I have no idea why.

I have seen this film. Maybe because Madchen Amick was in it--I couldn't say for sure, though. It's pretty dire. It IS bad in that 'fun to watch' way though, and although it's too recent to be an episode of MST3K, it would fit right in. Madchen Amick plays some kind of ritzy Department store manager in NYC dealing with an infestation of aggressive rats who run out and bite the customers, and Vincent Spano plays the hunky exterminator (is there any other kind?) who comes in to investigate and finds out that there's a giant hole in the basement that goes down to the sewers where a RAT ARMY is massing. Also, these are super-intelligent rats, they follow their enemies home and spy on them...there's lots of rat-cam sequences, which all come off as incredibly goofy, and lots of 'we've got to close the store!' 'you can't close the store!' dialogue. In further tribute to Jaws, there's a scene where the evil rats invade the local swimming pool (??!!???). The sight of a hundred or so rats dog-paddling around and trying to bite peoples ankles as they scream and run away is, uhm, the movie's highlight, sad to say.

Would probably make a great double bill with 'Willard' for the 3% of the population that like killer rat movies. For everybody else, go see JUNO or THERE WILL BE BLOOD.