Night of the Lepus
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Movie Reviews of Night of the Lepus
Movie Review: These Rabbits Are Hopping Mad
Summary: 4 Stars
Figured I'd might as well put in my two cents on the terrifying Night of the Lepus. The "Nature Strikes Back" subgenre of the 70s is one of the most entertaining in all of horror. It's almost never scary(Jaws being the exception to this), but it's so much damn fun. Night of the Lepus is one of those that almost every horror fan is aware of and is usually the punchline of a lot of jokes. Though it's always joked about, I think for the most part the movie is well liked. As you already know, it concerns giant flesh eating rabbits(a hormone experiment gone awry) terrorizing the Arizona countryside. This is a movie that'll be right at home next to your copies of Food of the Gods and Empire of the Ants.
Yes, it's a good time. The silly concept alone will have you giddy from the getgo, but seeing all of this in action will definitely cause you to laugh out loud.
The visuals on the rabbits are both funny and impressive. Footage of live stampeding rabbits are used and mixed with minatures, blue screen and rear projection photography(the type Bert I. Gordon uses for his giant monster opuses). This approach, while funny, really doesn't look all that bad, not nearly as bad as you would expect. Some shots are rather impressive. Especially when you consider the budget and year in which this was made. And hey, I don't care what anyone says, using real live rabbits adds a realism that you'd never get with an army of CGI rabbits. As much realism as you can get with a concept like this, that is. To make these rabbits seem more ferocious, close up shots have some of the rabbit's faces smeared with blood and/or drool. They're also given a sinister growling type of sound. The idea may have been to make them seem threatening, but it works the totally opposite way and makes it rather hilarious. When you get down to it, I guess there really isn't a way to make rabbits scary or threatening.
My good friend Dave K. brought up a good point in his review. The point being, was this film made to scare audiences? That's a good question. Common sense would tell you that there's no way to make this scary. How did they pitch this idea to the producers? I realize that this type of film was hot at the time, but someone had to say something! How many takes did the actors have to do because they were bursting out laughing? Unless director Claxton has a bizarre sense of humor, the intent definitely seems to be that this film was supposed to be suspenseful and scary. The tone is straight faced from beginning to end. This makes the movie all the more fun. If it were made today, it'd be tongue in cheek like Black Sheep or something. And how did Janet Leigh get suckered into this??
All in all, Night of the Lepus is a fun example of a fun genre(The Sci-Fi channel's "Maneater" series, which tries to revitalize the genre just doesn't come anywhere close. This is a 70s genre, plain and simple.). It's the type of film we just do not see anymore, so enjoy it while we have it.
And thanks, Dave K. for reminding me of it.
Movie Review: Bugs Bunny has gone insane. More like Bugs Bunny on crack
Summary: 4 Stars
Just when I've thought that I have seen it all I come across Night of the Lepus, which features hordes of killer rabbits. Yes you read that correctly killer rabbits. Movies like Night of the Lepus just wouldn't work with today's audience this is something that could only work in the pre-90s.
I've seen movies with all types of killer animals, but I can't say I have ever seen anything to feature killer rabbits. The concept of the movie is just flat out silly, but it's actually played straight, which is what makes this movie such a fun time. The rabbits are mutated and well it sure as hell ain't the Easter Bunny coming for a visit. These rabbits are out for blood!
The screenplay was written by Don Holliday & Gene R. Kearney, which was based off the novel Year of the Angry Rabbit written by Russell Braddon; having not read the novel I have no idea if the movie strays or not. The script by Holliday & Kearney isn't as bad as one might think. I mean the characters never really have anything smart to say at all, but they don't have the silly dialogue that most movies like this are known for. The script will never go down in history as one of the greats, but it's very much entertaining.
Director William F. Claxton keeps the pace moving at a pretty good pace there are a few slow moments, but Claxton always manages to keep the movie from getting boring. His scenes are actually played straight and make the movie so much fun. Shots of the rabbits on the attack and hopping along to kill are damn hysterical. Again the fact the movie is played straight really adds to the camp factor.
I often wonder when people make movies like this if they actually think it will scare the audience. I can't see anyone thinking mutated killer rabbits would make for a scary movie, but it does make for an entertaining one. Cult fan thought will surely love the movie for the campy and silly tone. The cast is surprisingly decent with DeForest Kelley and Janet Leigh who was far removed from Psycho.
Night of the Lepus is a movie that could only work in another era and fans of silly Drive-In flicks this movie is for you. Mutated killer rabbits should sell the movie to fans of cult cinema. This movie delivers on the fun. Like I stated shots of the rabbits hopping down the street killing people is damn hysterical and will entertain those who get these types of movies.
Movie Review: Great Low Budget Film
Summary: 4 Stars
OK maybe not so great. It is a funny movie if you like rabbits. Really sad at the end though. It is amusing how they did the camera work.Movie Review: When Bunnies Attack
Summary: 4 Stars
I watched this on a whim and honestly was laughing out loud for much of it. Its campy and corny and the dialog is REALLY bad. All these together make this a really great movie. Watch it if you enjoy classic camp.
One note, Lepus is the Latin genus for Hares NOT common domestic (European) rabbits like shown in the move. I guess Night of the Leporidae would have been an equally ridiculous title, but would have been more fitting.
Movie Review: night of the lepus
Summary: 5 Stars
night of the lepus is as good asi remembered as a child. i like the old scary movies because it is not all blood and guts. the rabbits are big and realestic. im really glad they put it on a dvd