Rats (film)

Rats, also known as Rats NYC, is a 2016 American documentary horror film directed by Morgan Spurlock.[1][2] Based on a book by Robert Sullivan and distributed by the Discovery Channel, the film chronicles rat infestations in major cities throughout the world.

"Rats NYC" redirects here. For New York City's rat population, see Rats in New York City.
Rats
Promotional release poster
Directed byMorgan Spurlock
Written byJeremy Chilnick
Morgan Spurlock
Based onRats: Observations on the History & Habitat of the City’s Most Unwanted Inhabitants by Robert Sullivan
StarringDr. Michael Blum
Bobby Corrigan
Ed Sheehan
Production
companies
Dakota Group
Discovery Channel
Release date
  • September 13, 2016 (2016-09-13) (TIFF)
Running time
84 minutes
CountryUnited States
LanguageEnglish

Synopsis

The film primarily focuses on rat infestations and exterminations, including methods such as night-patrol teams in Mumbai snapping rats' necks and the practice of ratting in England. Much of the documentary has been considered a detailing of "the 'war' against rats", featuring "bashing, slicing, dissecting and poisoning".[3] The director also journeys to the Karni Mata Temple in Rajasthan, India, where over 35,000 black rats are revered by devotees who believe them to be reincarnated human beings.

Release and reception

The documentary premiered at the Toronto International Film Festival on September 13, 2016.[4] The film premiered on television on October 22, 2016, airing on the Discovery Channel.[5]

The Daily Telegraph reported on the film's trailer for its "stomach-churning footage" and "disturbing scenes", with writer Rebecca Hawkes noting that the trailer's footage, which includes rats being killed by terriers, "will likely provoke a strong response from viewers".[3] The Hollywood Reporter wrote that the documentary "plays much like a horror film", and in reference to the terrier scene, called it "an absolute bloodbath ... with filters appropriate for a zombie apocalypse".[6] Wendy Ide of The Guardian wrote that the film is "gleefully exploitative in its approach, and as such, it is horribly entertaining".[7] Peter Debruge of Variety called the film "super-disgusting" and "[un]fair to the animals in question, who would surely view this as a grisly, “Faces of Death”-style marathon of murder", writing that "rarely has a filmmaker more blatantly manipulated the material he has collected to game his audience".[8]

Accolades
Award Category Recipients Result Ref.
Saturn Awards Best Television Presentation Rats Nominated [9]

References
  1. Amy Kaufman (17 September 2016). "With 'Rats,' Morgan Spurlock delivers the rare doc that also functions like a shock-horror movie". Los Angeles Times. Retrieved 31 December 2016.
  2. Chloe Melas (21 October 2016). "Morgan Spurlock on horror documentary 'Rats': 'We all have a rat story'". CNN.com. Retrieved 31 December 2016.
  3. Rebecca Hawkes (26 September 2016). "Rats: is Morgan Spurlock's new horror doc the most disgusting film of the year?". The Daily Telegraph. Retrieved 31 December 2016.
  4. Peter Sciretta (15 September 2016). "Rats Trailer: Morgan Spurlock's Doc Will Make You Scared To Sit On A NYC Toilet". /Film. Retrieved 31 December 2016.
  5. Charlinda Robinson (21 October 2016). "Morgan Spurlock's Horror Documentary 'Rats' To Premiere On Discovery". Inquisitr. Retrieved 31 December 2016.
  6. John DeFore (14 September 2016). "'Rats': Film Review - TIFF 2016". The Hollywood Reporter. Retrieved 31 December 2016.
  7. Wendy Ide (18 December 2016). "Rats review – Spurlock down the sewer". The Guardian. Retrieved 31 December 2016.
  8. Peter Debruge (21 September 2016). "Film Review: 'Rats'". Variety. Retrieved 31 December 2016.
  9. McNary, Dave (March 15, 2018). "'Black Panther,' 'Walking Dead' Rule Saturn Awards Nominations". Variety. Archived from the original on March 16, 2018. Retrieved March 15, 2018.
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