7/10
Mystery, Suspense, and The Bat
26 July 2017
The Bat Whispers is a 1930 suspense-thriller with elements of mystery and drama. The story follows a middle-aged woman of wealth, named Cornelia Van Gorder, who has rented an elaborate mansion from a wealthy banker's son. When the large house is used to hide the proceeds from a bank robbery, several different parties compete to remove the inhabitants and find the money. Excitement, suspense, and thrills ensue as Cornelia, along with her friends and family, attempt to put an end to the fiasco.

The film, The Bat Whispers, manages to stay enjoyable throughout its entirety, with barely a dull moment. The Bat character is reminiscent of an early Batman and it is easy to draw parallels between the two characters. The ending is also extremely fun, after the resolution and when the audience is addressed. I won't give anything away, but this film is worth watching for this part alone.

One of the worst parts of the film, unfortunately, is the corny attempts at humor. Hiding halfway under a bed, cross-eyed fainting, and overdone acting add a cringe element to the film, which is disappointing. The story is done very well and the added comedy elements deduct from the overall viewing experience. There are also a few ambitious attempts at using special effects, such as tiny models to show a sprawling cityscape or a car traveling down a road. Although it is a good effort by the artists involved, these scenes do not work either. They are simply too artificial and, worse, are completely irrelevant. Lastly, one could argue that much of the conflict in this film, along with many thriller and mystery movies, is based on a faulty personality by the characters, such as an extreme naivety in their surroundings and the ability to trust even the most suspicious- looking individuals without hesitation.

Overall, The Bat Whispers is a fun film. Exciting, suspenseful, full of thrills and twists, and a good mystery story, all audiences can enjoy this movie. A few downfalls and bad choices keep this film from being truly great, but it is worth a watch. And don't forget to watch the very end, it's great.
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