Coming from Shameless Films’ height or depths of exploitation range, comes Ratman.
Directed by Italian filmmaker Giuliano Carnimeo, who is also known for B-movie affairs such as The Exterminators of the Year 3000.
Clearly Carnimeo is working with limited resources here but does attempt to create a cohesive storyline with man playing God and creating an abomination in the form of a man/rat hybrid.
When the creature escapes from its cage on a Caribbean island, it begins to wreak havoc on the locals.
Sadly, the end result is quite laughable with Dominican actor Nelson de la Rosa, who also featured in the ill-fated reboot of the Island of Dr Moreau in 1996.
Ratman is dirty and sleazy, with some OTT performances, and these weren’t even from de la Rosa’s Mousey; yes the titular villain is called Mousey. We also have Terry, who is searching for her sister, who has run afoul of the Ratman but gets over her alleged demise unbelievably quickly, even in horror terms.
In terms of positives, it does occasionally have some decent practical effects and the score from Stefano Mainetti, who would also score Zombi 3 in the same year.
Anyone buying or renting Ratman will have a good idea what they are letting themselves in for and at 78 minutes it doesn’t outstay its welcome and has a couple of flashes of gnarly fun, which justify a one-time watch.
It’s also worth noting the film is left open-ended for a sequel…
Ratman is available now on DVD from Shameless Films.
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