Les Rats Attaquent

'Deadly Eyes' received negative reviews from critics and apparently even writer James Herbert - on whose novel the film is based - didn't like it. As for me, I actually really enjoyed this, and I'll tell you why.

While the rats are not the most realistic looking rodents, they are ugly looking things. The film doesn't waste time before the rats start killing, but the film is not only about the rats. There's romance and drama here as well. And I enjoyed this. These events nicely fleshed out the characters, and the characters were very likable.

Sam Groom stars as the film's main protagonist, Paul Harris (portrayed by hunky Sam Groom, with the most beautiful voice!). He is a divorced man living with his young son, Tim. One of his students, Trudy (Lisa Langlois) has a crush on him, and tells one of her girlfriends she will have sex with Paul within a month.

But Paul is not interested in Trudy. He meets and falls in love with Kelly (Sara Botsford), who works for the Department of Health. I found their relationship very natural, and thought Sara Botsford did a great job as Kelly.

Back to the rats; the film shows no mercy as the rats even kill (and eat) toddlers and the elderly. Clever photography makes the events all the more realistic, and the suspense is well crafted. The total mayhem during the climax is reminiscent of 50s and 60s horror movies. Personally, I found 'Deadly Eyes' an above average horror thriller with substance, and a great addition to the 80s horror portfolio. I know it's hardly an original premise, as we've seen this sort of thing a hundred times before. I guess I was hooked on the characters.

Judging by critics, I'm in the minority here, but I loved the movie.

Rats eat corn which inexplicably is coated with steroids and grow into large rats with nasty tempers, huge teeth and seem even more intelligent. Science teacher Sam Groom and health official Sara Botsford find out and try to save the city (carefully not named but it was filmed in Toronto).

The plot is old hat but this is reasonably well done. The script is OK and the acting is pretty good (especially Botsford). But what really makes me give this a 7 is the rats. Yes, I know they're dogs in rat suits but they look convincing and the scenes of them chasing victims are scary. Also the attack scenes (especially the one in the theatre) are vicious, bloody and very gory.

So a worthwhile movie for horror fans--especially those who like early 80s horror (like me). But if rats bother you, stay far away from this!

I had wanted to see this movie for a long time, but none of the video stores in the various cities I lived in stocked it. Finally, I had to purchase the Blu-ray. Was it worth the wait? For the most part, no. Now, the big feature about the movie that made me want to see it - giant rats played by dachshunds - does provide a little amusement, as well as the equally not convincing puppetry work when we see close-ups of the giant rats' faces. However, the bulk of the movie surrounding the rat stuff is extremely tedious to sit through. There simply isn't a lot of story here, and the characters are written in a way to be extremely uninteresting. The script is bad enough, but under the direction of Robert Clouse, the movie moves at a glacial pace and without any real tension. Clouse also makes some very big continuity goofs, like how the weather changes from shot to shot in some scenes, and how the movie seems to be taking place in Canada in some scenes but in other scenes in the United States. If you must see this, wait until it comes on cable and record it, then watch it with your finger hovered over the fast-forward button on your remote. Make sure your remote has fresh batteries, because this movie will give your remote a workout.

Cat-sized rats, laced-up on steroid enriched grain apparently destined for starving kids in Africa, overrun the city as former chop-socky filmmaker Clouse applies his unique, high contact brand of action/horror. Breaking with convention early, his sewer mob spirit away a toddler from its high chair – a trail of blood and an empty wonder suit greets the hysterical mother, a scene sure to disaffect plenty of parents so early in the piece, they may not stay for the blood bath still to come. Local teacher and single dad Groom investigates the strange goings on, while courting the attentions of Health official (Botsford) and attempting to dissuade those of an infatuated student (Langlois).

The versatile vaudeville performer Crothers is wasted in a frivolous supporting role, while veteran Canadian actor Linder is also given little respect. Langlois is the most vivacious characterisation, giving conviction and dimension to the sexually confident and nubile young student, enamoured by the worldly but unattainable Groom. Clouse even manages to stage a rat attack during a Bruce Lee cinema retrospective at which his film "Game of Death" is played on the big screen, for those who might appreciate an in-joke.

It's formula filmmaking and Clouse handles both the characterisations and action sequences with adept skill, albeit with little attention to detail or continuity. Groom is an affable leading man, Botsford a more attractive proposition (there's even a fire-lit love scene to really set the mood), and the daschunds dressed in sewer rat costumes, almost look cute in some scenes, as they scamper from one mark to the next below aerial shots that clearly display their canine features. Extremely bloody with plenty of limb gnawing, bone chewing gore, "Night Eyes" is the perfect late night viewing experience.

Giant rat movie based on excellent book "The Rats", this is a definite addition to the So-Bad-It's-Almost-Good hall of fame. You think you have seen it all until you see the little dogs in rat costumes running everywhere, munching on fleeing, screaming humans. Lisa Langlois plays the standard doomed "bad girl" role well, you just know her days are numbered. Fun no brainer flick, don't expect too much.