SEASON 3, EPISODE 21, RATS: NIGHT OF TERROR - The Gross Yet Compelling 80s Italo- Trash Masterpiece!

The Rad Revival House explores the gruesome sub-genre of Italian Sci-Fi Exploitation cinema with the bonkers 1984 picture, RATS: NIGHT OF TERROR!Appearing for the first time on our show as Special Guest Lecturer is Sam Panico of the cool AF cult film website B&S About Movies. Along with our host, Professor Cesare Augusto, Sam offers his enthusiastic insight about RATS and its bizarre take on the post-apocalyptic sub-genre of Science Fiction.After a nuclear war devastates the world, the human race has been split into two: the surface world, and the subterranean world. Making their way through the barren surface world is a diverse gang of misfit bikers, scavengers grabbing everything they can get to survive and enjoying themselves, too. They stumble upon a deserted research facility that is grotesquely infested with hordes upon hordes of disgusting, diseased-filled rats! One by one, the bikers are killed by the genetically-enhanced vermin, until a small few are left to fight for their survival.Cesare and Sam discuss the nasty yet surprisingly compelling production within RATS, how director Bruno Mattei was able to masterfully create a grim atmosphere despite a low budget, and how the picture’s special effects are effectively performed WITHOUT the use of slick special effects. RATS, as Sam said, is a strong example of how filmmakers can excel at being weird and being memorable, without having otherwise prolifically artistic visions in mind!