NIGHT OF THE LEPUS
German Title:
Rabbits
USA, 1972
Director: William F. Claxton
3/10
German Title:
Rabbits
USA, 1972
Director: William F. Claxton
3/10
Just when you thought you've seen everything, this silly piece of drive-in trash comes around and cuddles you to death: yes, Ladies and Gentlemen, it's the infamous "Night Of The Lepus", an unintentionally hilarious "horror" movie about a herd of... um, giant killer rabbits (yep, you read right), based on Russell Braddon's novel "The Year Of The Angry Rabbit".
It's not as bad as similar giant-animals flicks from the 70s, e.g. "The Food Of The Gods" or "Empire Of The Ants", but still pretty bad. Western-director William F. Claxton tried his best to scare American audiences with a bloodthirsty killer bunnies, but ultimately failed, mainly because bunnies aren't scary AT ALL! It doesn't help showing them jumping around minature farms in slow-motion with their mouths ketchup-smeared :-)
The cast is quite impressive (Janet Leigh[!], DeForest Kelley, Stuart Whitman, Rory Calhoun) but none of the actors delivers a memorable performance. The soundtrack is tiresome, editing and effects look amateurish, the pacing is weak, there's hardly any suspense and it's packed with unintentionally hilarous lines like "Attention! There is a herd of killer rabbits headed this way and we desperately need your help!".
At least, there's some fine gore and an 'electrifying' climax.
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LMAO!! I love this movie, it has cheestastic charm for me and I can never get enough of it. DeForest Kelly was just awesome as were Janet, Rory and Stuart. Have I seen far better from them, sure, but what a fun film. A great antidote for all those chocolate bunnies, pink and yellow stuffed bunnies and marshmallow peeps running amok.
ReplyDeleteHope you had a terrific Easter Weekend, my friend.
Here, Easter is next weekend, but to those of you who celebrate it a week earlier: Happy Easter! :)
ReplyDeleteI've never heard of this film before, but it sounds like crap. LOL.
Brings to mind the Killer Rabbit taken down with the holy hand grenade in Monty Python's Holy Grail. We're working on a scifi horror short - Abel and Cain. I wonderful if I can talk the scriptwriter into a bloody bunny :)
ReplyDeleteOh good hell! I don't know what's worse. Killer Tomatoes or killer Rabbits. :/
ReplyDeleteI don't know what to feel! <XDDD Killer slugs are okay, so are killer tomatoes, but killer bunnies?! WHAT NEXT AMERICA?! KILLER TICKS?!
ReplyDeleteactually, they did had killer Ticks!
@Mel:
ReplyDeleteYes, it's definitely a fun film! One of these so-bad-it's-good movies and yeah, IT IS the perfext chocolate-bunny-antidote :)
@George:
ReplyDeleteThank you!
Really? Next Week? Well, then I'm gonna wish you a Happy Easter next week :)
@Georgia:
LOL The Monty Phyton killer rabbit was way more badass than any bunny in here :)
@Jen:
ReplyDeleteDefinitely killer tomatoes. Killer bunnies are cuter :D
@Kai:
I remember the awful 90s-crap "TICKS" a.k.a. "C2 Killerinsect", so yeah, they DID had killer ticks :D
Maynard, yes, really. I think that Catholic people celebrated Easter last weekend. Correct me if I'm wrong. Here, our religion is Eastern Orthodox, and that's why we celebrate it a week later.
ReplyDeleteah, I heard about the Eastern Orthodox Church but didn't knew anything about it. Just checked Wiki - now I'm in the know :)
ReplyDeleteThere are not many differences, Harry. :)
ReplyDeleteOh, I've always wanted to see this! How can you resist giant killer bunnies? I don't think anyone can.
ReplyDeleteThis is one of those movies where I'm sure the cast were told the effects were going to be amazing and scary as hell. Then I picture them at the premiere...
ReplyDeleteBecause as silly as it sounds, this thing is DEAD SERIOUS. Which of course, just makes it all the funnier.
Terrific Easter fare, Harry!
@George:
ReplyDeleteNo, not really :)
@Michele:
Nope, I couldn't resist either :D
@Craig:
ReplyDeleteHaha, yeah. Just like Claudio Fragasso told the actors that the goblins will look creepy as hell :-)
Yep, it is dead serious and that's exactly what makes it so hilarious!
Wonderful belated Easter, Craig!
Lol. Hilarious movie, but both FOOD OF THE GODS and EMPIRE OF THE ANTS nudges this one out a bit for me, especially FOOD as it has a couple genuinely grim scenes and some nice atmosphere.
ReplyDeleteLong ago since I last saw FOOD, but I remember that I laughed my ass off when I saw the giant chickens and the giant bees :)
ReplyDelete