Night of the Lepus (1972)

11% of critics liked it
(9 reviews)
30% of users liked it
(2,829 ratings)

Giant Flesh-Eating Rabbits Ravage American Southwest After Scientist Slips Up! Such is the plot of this unintentionally campy horror outing. The trouble begins when a researcher's experiment to use hormone injections to control Arizona's burgeoning rabbit population goes terribly awry, causing the… More Giant Flesh-Eating Rabbits Ravage American Southwest After Scientist Slips Up! Such is the plot of this unintentionally campy horror outing. The trouble begins when a researcher's experiment to use hormone injections to control Arizona's burgeoning rabbit population goes terribly awry, causing the cuddly rodents to grow to enormous proportions. In order to facilitate their growth, the rabbits need extra protein, and what better source than the relatively slow-moving human population that surrounds their huge subterranean lairs? ~ Sandra Brennan, Rovi

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Rating, Runtime: PG, 1 hr. 30 min.
Directed By: William F. Claxton
Genres: Horror, Mystery & Suspense, Classics, Science Fiction & Fantasy

In Theaters: Oct 4, 1972 Wide
On DVD: Oct 4, 2005
Studio: MGM

Critic Reviews

Roger Greenspun, New York Times
It is this technical laziness as much as the stupid story or the dumb direction that leaves the film in limbo and places it in neither one camp nor the other - neither with Attack of the 50-Foot Woman nor with Flopsy, Mopsy and Cottontail.
, TV Guide's Movie Guide
The mind marvels at the bravery of the person who walked into the producer's office to pitch this idea.
Dennis Schwartz, Ozus' World Movie Reviews
Well worth watching for those enamored by bad films that are unintentionally funny.
, Time Out
Impossible not to admire the total withholding of irony in Claxton's approach to this kamikaze project.
Eric Henderson, Slant Magazine
Might be the only '70s film featuring the Army that isn't even worth unpacking for political subtext.
Eric Henderson, Slant Magazine
Rabbits produce two things in obscene quanities: other rabbits and rabbit pellets.
Christopher Null, Filmcritic.com
one of the worst films ever made
John J. Puccio, Movie Metropolis
...not so much a horror movie as it is a horror of a movie.
John J. Puccio, Movie Metropolis
The only thing more lifeless than the corpses in Night of the Lepus is the movie itself.
Staci Layne Wilson, StaciWilson.com
Here comes the 'eater' bunny!
Shane Burridge, rec.arts.movies.reviews
A failure on every level

Read all 11 critic reviews

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Featured Audience Ratings

Luke B

I can't believe I only just heard about this movie. Needless to say, once I heard the plot I wanted to watch it immediately. Giant Killer Bunnies! And not some kind of mutated freaks, they are just large bunnies. The beauty of the film is how serious it all is. Here is a film… More
I can't believe I only just heard about this movie. Needless to say, once I heard the plot I wanted to watch it immediately. Giant Killer Bunnies! And not some kind of mutated freaks, they are just large bunnies. The beauty of the film is how serious it all is. Here is a film that has complete faith in its premise. I wonder if the studio though it was going to be a comedy. After all, neither the trailers nor the posters show the large rabbits. Rabbit isn't used in the title either. No matter what though, this is a lovely film. It uses models perfectly, as the bunnies just run around looking gigantic. Their interactions with humans are less convincing. A man in a suit, which completely changes the size and physical attributes of a rabbit. There is some awful dialog, and bizarre moments which make no sense, but also a lot of great characters. At least the farmer and the scientist want to work together. Usually in a film like this there would be a pissing contest for control. A great bit of fun.
AJ V

Bad acting, special effects, and story, but it's funny and amusing. It's so outrageous, the giant rabbits, it made me laugh.
Ken S

Marion from Psycho and Bones from Star Trek fight a horde of ravenous giant rabbits in the American Southwest. The attack sequences consist mainly of slow-mo cutaways of blood covered rabbits hopping about on miniature sets. and that's not a bad thing. What's so great about… More
Marion from Psycho and Bones from Star Trek fight a horde of ravenous giant rabbits in the American Southwest. The attack sequences consist mainly of slow-mo cutaways of blood covered rabbits hopping about on miniature sets. and that's not a bad thing. What's so great about this movie is it's commitment to it's ridiculous subject matter, and the "who gives a fuck what it looks like" attitude toward special effects. I'm so glad this movie exists. It's both a hoot and a holler!
jay n

Dumb
Cindy I

Help me! I'm being attacked by a giant killer...rabbit?!?! That's right. This is without a doubt one of the funniest of the giant mutant animal films to come out of the 70's. If you liked Empire of the Ants and Food of the Gods, this is a must-see.
Michael G

This movie is so horrible you have to love it.
Matthew Y

Aw, look at the bunny! Night of the Lepus is a "horror" story about giant man-eating rabbits. I really don't think I need to get too further into the plot. I watched this years ago because I was on a huge schlock horror film kick and I always had a tender spot for… More
Aw, look at the bunny! Night of the Lepus is a "horror" story about giant man-eating rabbits. I really don't think I need to get too further into the plot. I watched this years ago because I was on a huge schlock horror film kick and I always had a tender spot for being eaten by things that ought not be eating you. I will give the film one bright spot, the close-up of the bunnies to make them look larger is actually fairly well done and those big long teeth are actually a bit menacing.