The Rats (2002)

0% of critics liked it
(6 reviews)
36% of users liked it
(735 ratings)

Initially titled The Colony, this made-for-TV thriller offers the nightmarish scenario of thousands upon thousands of verminous rats swarming over a posh Manhattan department store. Inevitably, the dirty rodents threaten the entire city, and it is up to such hardy souls as hero Jack (Vincent Spano)… More Initially titled The Colony, this made-for-TV thriller offers the nightmarish scenario of thousands upon thousands of verminous rats swarming over a posh Manhattan department store. Inevitably, the dirty rodents threaten the entire city, and it is up to such hardy souls as hero Jack (Vincent Spano) and heroine Susan (Madchen Amick) to prevent this catastrophe. As The Rats, the film was originally slated for broadcast on September 17, 2001. For reasons that should be obvious, the Fox Network felt it would be more diplomatic to shelve the film for a while--for 367 days, to be exact, so it would not appear to be a tasteless exploitation of the first "9.11" anniversary. ~ Hal Erickson, Rovi

Rating, Runtime: R, 1 hr. 34 min.
Directed By: Antonio Giménez Rico, John Lafia
Written By: Antonio Giménez Rico, Miguel Delibes
Genres: Drama, Television, Horror

In Theaters: Jan 1, 1997 Wide
On DVD: Oct 15, 2002

Critic Reviews

Staci Layne Wilson, StaciWilson.com
Rodents with no bite.
Ryan Cracknell, Apollo Guide
What you might expect from a second-rate creature thriller.
Walter Chaw, Film Freak Central
the picture isn't so much about even something so banal as eco-paranoia, but about itself and the genre that it simultaneously lampoons and aspires to.
Blake French, Filmcritic.com
...in order to buy this movie, you'd have to abandon sanity altogether.

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Featured Audience Ratings

Luke B

The Rats is a well made TV B-Movie. It picks some excellent talent to drive this along and leading the way is Madchen Amick. She suits her character so well, you almost believe this is how the actress would live her life. Chase manages to pull off the daughter role without being… More
The Rats is a well made TV B-Movie. It picks some excellent talent to drive this along and leading the way is Madchen Amick. She suits her character so well, you almost believe this is how the actress would live her life. Chase manages to pull off the daughter role without being annoying. I was never cheering on the rats and there were a few scenes that made me shudder. Like Willard, this will have me checking my toilet for a while. It also attempts a bit of a mystery as to why the rats are flocking and commentates on the deceptive nature of politics. I'd still rather watch the remake of Willard, but if this came on TV I doubt I'd change the channel.
Dr Blood

Not overly scary but very well done. It would have been even better if, instead of Frank Deasy's excellent script, they'd used James Herbert's book of the same name as the storyline.

Cast

Daveigh Chase
as Amy Costello
Shawn Michael Howard
as Ty
Vincent Spano
as Jack Carver

Mädchen Amick
as Susan
Sheila McCarthy
as Susan's Boss
Elisa Moolecherry
as Elisa

See full cast

The Rats (2002)

Critic Reviews

Featured Audience Ratings

Luke B

Dr Blood

Cast