Synopsis
The Devil Bat is a 1940 American horror film produced by Producers Releasing Corporation (PRC) and stars Bela Lugosi, Suzanne Kaaren, Guy Usher, Yolande Mallott and the comic team of Dave O'Brien and Donald Kerr as the protagonists. It was the first horror film from PRC. Heathville loved the magnificent estate of Martin Heath owned by Dr. Paul Carruthers, (Bela Lugosi), the doctor found time to conduct certain private experiments -- weird, terrifying experiments. Dr. Carruthers is offered a $5,000 bonus from his employers for his contributions to the company, a pittance compared to the million dollars in income the company earned from his work. Embittered and insulted by this fact, Dr. Paul seeks revenge and develops a system in which ordinary bats are enlarged to a massive size, training them to be drawn to a new, pungent aftershave he is testing. He distributes the aftershave to his enemies as a 'test' product. Once the aftershave is applied, Dr. Paul then releases his Devil Bats in the night to target the families of his employer's owners -- attacking and killing one of the owners and two of his sons. A Chicago Register reporter, Johnny Layton (Dave O'Brien) is assigned to cover and help solve the murders. Layton and his bumbling photographer 'One Shot' McGuire (Donald Kerr) begin to unwind the mystery with some comic highlights. This is another classic Bela Lugosi movie with a suspenseful ending you won't want to miss!