Rats, The

Color, R (mature themes, nudity, language, gore, violence), 94 min., VHS rental, DVD $26.98

Street: Oct. 15, Prebook: Sept. 18

First Run: TV, 2002

Cast: Madchen Amick (Dream Lover), Vincent Spano (Texas Rangers), Daveigh Chase (Donnie Darko), Shawn Michael Howard (Men of Honor)

Director: John Lafia

Story Line: An enormous--and as yet secret--colony of genetically mutated rats invades a 10-block area of New York City. Department store executive Susan Costello (Amick) hires exterminator Jack Carver (Spano) to quietly clear out her store, but the rats only get bolder and more vicious. And the Health Department is helpless to stop them.

Bottom Line: What a surprisingly arousing, fitfully entertaining take on the familiar nature--run--amok genre. The computer generated and puppetry special effects are creepily effective, particularly the rushing rodent hoard near the end, and the reluctant sexual tension between the attractive leads (happily, unresolved) is utterly convincing and actually adds to the character development. The hilarious, over--the-top finale featuring a dry swimming pool filled with squiggling rats is a must--see moment (Amick finds herself buried in them). The Rats, bumped from Fox's TV schedule in Sept. 2001 because of its NYC setting, will easily appeal to thriller fans across the board. If viewers can get past the presumed low-budget Grade Z-movie-ness of the title and box art, they'll be pleasantly surprised. We don't have to tell you to put it on the shelf next to Willard. --Buzz McClain

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