The Vampire Bat (1933): cast, story & where to watch
1933 · Film · ★ 5.5
Released in 1933, The Vampire Bat is a thriller and horror film directed by Frank R. Strayer, running about 64 minutes. “These are the TALONS of The Vampire Bat” — that tagline sets the tone.
What it’s about. When the villagers of Klineschloss start dying of blood loss, the town fathers suspect a resurgence of vampirism. While police inspector Karl remains skeptical, scientist Dr. von Niemann cares for the vampire's victims one by one, and suspicion falls on simple-minded Herman Gleib because of his fondness for bats. A blood-thirsty mob hounds Gleib to his death, but the vampire attacks don't stop.
Who’s in it. The Vampire Bat stars Lionel Atwill as Dr. Otto von Niemann, Fay Wray as Ruth Bertin, Melvyn Douglas as Karl Brettschneider and Maude Eburne as Aunt Gussie Schnappmann, among others.
How it landed. With an audience score of 5.5/10, The Vampire Bat has drawn a solid, mixed-to-positive response.
Where to watch. In US you can stream it on Amazon Prime Video, MGM+ Amazon Channel, Philo and YouTube TV and rent or buy it from Amazon Video, Apple TV Store, Fandango At Home and FlixFling. See the full, country-by-country breakdown on our where to watch The Vampire Bat page.
If you liked it. Fans of The Vampire Bat tend to enjoy The Dark Knight, Pulp Fiction, Parasite and Fight Club.
Frequently asked
- Where can I watch The Vampire Bat (1933)?
- In US, The Vampire Bat is available to stream on Amazon Prime Video, MGM+ Amazon Channel and Philo, and rent or buy from Amazon Video, Apple TV Store and Fandango At Home. Availability varies by country — check our where-to-watch page for every region.
- Is The Vampire Bat worth watching?
- The Vampire Bat holds an audience score of 5.5 out of 10, and is a strong pick if you enjoy thriller and horror. Reactions are mixed, so it may depend on taste.
- Who stars in The Vampire Bat?
- The Vampire Bat stars Lionel Atwill, Fay Wray, Melvyn Douglas, Maude Eburne and George E. Stone.
- When was The Vampire Bat released?
- The Vampire Bat was released in 1933, with a runtime of about 64 minutes.