The Vampire Bat is a fairly decent pre code horror drama with some mad scientist thrown in for good measure. Too bad the title is a lie, yet it’s effective and gets one to notice the movie. The cast is really good for this one, maybe even great: Dwight Frye, Lionel Atwill, Melvyn Douglas, and Fay Wray. Frye actually steals the movie, playing a main suspect in the local killings. He was also great in Dracula (1931), a movie people like more than I do.
There is an angry mob scene, a tense final act and some film noir elements that are worked into this movie just like some of the other flicks made during this era. I still was left mostly entertained although better pre code movies exist than The Vampire Bat. Seen via Tubi, which is fast becoming one of my favorite streaming services.
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