In this hugely successful story of violent vermin, oppressed mother-dominated office boy Bruce Davison turns the tables on his tormentors by training his two pet rats, Socrates and Ben, and their sewer pals, to attack on command.
But when he neglects them after falling in love with Sondra Locke, hell hath no fury like rodents scorned.
Solid direction by Daniel Mann and Davison’s creepily introverted performance turned this horror revenge tale into a huge box-office hit.
Everybody cheers when bullying boss Ernest Borgnine gets it, although the movie’s overall success depends on one’s squeamishness towards the creatures themselves. The sequel Ben (1972) followed.
A 2003 ‘reinterpretation’ starred Crispin Glover and R Lee Ermey.
Willard Stiles
Bruce Davison
Al Martin
Ernest Borgnine
Henrietta Stiles
Elsa Lanchester
Joan
Sondra Locke
Brandt
Michael Dante
Charlotte Stassen
Jody Gilbert
Director
Daniel Mann
