Practical Effects
Rubber bats on visible strings — Oscar-worthy chaos.
Acting
David Warner commits to bat scientist like it's Shakespeare.
Director
Arthur Hiller
Trivia, insights & behind the scenes
Released the same summer as Alien; audiences chose correctly. Warner had just finished Time Bandits and needed rent money apparently.
Filmed on location at Hopi and Navajo reservations with actual tribal members in supporting roles — progressive for 1979, though the 'white savior' structure undermines it.
US
