Rats! New Horror Film About a Deadly Rat Infestation in New York

Horror fans have long been aware: animals in movies don't have to be friends. Animal horror movies have been an integral part of the genre's repertoire for decades – ranging from the trashy "Sharknado" to the thrilling classic "Jaws". The theme still enjoys great popularity today: for instance, 2023 saw the release of the absurd horror comedy "Cocaine Bear". Now, another project is in the pipeline: "Rats!"

The movie revolves around a rat infestation in New York City. It's a race against the clock to combat the threat of killer rats. It sounds generic, but according to the business magazine Deadline, it's not some cheap production: behind the movie is a major film studio – namely the action and horror company Lionsgate, home to successful film series such as "John Wick".

Director of the project is Todd Strauss-Schulson, who directed the romantic comedy "Isn't It Romantic" for Netflix, for example. "Pitch Perfect" producer Paul Brooks is also involved in the movie. Jason Fuchs, co-showrunner of the upcoming Stephen King series "It: Welcome to Derry", is equally involved. We are looking forward to more details!

Animal Horror Movies

The Fascination of the Genre

Animal horror movies are fascinating because they address a deep-rooted primordial fear: the idea that nature turns against humans. Unlike supernatural monsters, animals as a threat often seem more real, more tangible – even if they are exaggerated or mutated. The idea that the familiar balance might shift and that humans are suddenly no longer at the top of the food chain can create tension. At the same time, these movies often play with settings that actually stand for safety – such as vacation resorts, suburbs or local nature – which intensifies the horror effect. Whether seriously directed or told wryly: animal horror films permit a special perspective on the fragile relationship between humans and animals.

Jaws

Steven Spielberg's classic "Jaws" is undoubtedly the founding father of modern animal horror. The movie is about a great white shark that terrorizes a vacation island on the US east coast. A small group – consisting of a police chief, a shark researcher and a shark hunter – takes up the pursuit. What sounds like a simple monster movie becomes a psychologically exciting and stylistically sophisticated masterpiece thanks to Spielberg's direction. With its iconic music and skillful presentation of the menace, the movie became a cultural phenomenon.

One of the movie's greatest strengths lies in what you can't see. The shark, actually the main attraction, is barely visible throughout most of the film. Instead, Spielberg relies on suspense through hints, music and camera angles. The invisible horror thus becomes a subliminal threat – a cinematic implementation of the famous Hitchcock principle: the fear of what is not shown is often greater than what is actually shown. This concept still works to this day.

"Jaws" not only triggered a veritable shark hysteria, but also made the concept of the summer blockbuster socially acceptable. Today, the movie is of great importance: in film history, "Jaws" is often regarded as the kick-off for the era of blockbuster cinema.

Anaconda

In the middle of the Amazon, a film crew and a dubious hunter come across a monstrous giant snake. "Anaconda" offers classic creature horror paired with an exotic jungle setting. The sometimes trashy effects and exaggerated dialog have given the film cult status. Despite, or perhaps because of, its clichéd plot, the movie is still very popular among fans of the genre. A remake of "Anaconda" is currently in development.

Cujo

Stephen King's "Cujo" brings the horror to the suburbs. The movie tells the story of a once harmless St. Bernard that becomes a deadly threat after being infected with rabies. The claustrophobic tension that builds up between mother and child in the trapped car over long stretches of the movie makes "Cujo" an intense psychological animal horror film.

The Birds

Alfred Hitchcock's "The Birds" is a stylistic masterpiece of animal horror. With no clear explanation, birds begin systematically attacking people in a small coastal town. The threat seems all the more sinister because it comes from the commonplace – there are no monsters, just seemingly harmless birds that suddenly turn collectively against humans. The slow escalation, coupled with Hitchcock's suspense technique, still makes the movie a terrifying experience today. "The Birds" set new standards and is an absolute classic and pioneer of animal horror.

The Grey

In "The Grey", Liam Neeson fights for bare survival. After a plane crash in the icy Alaskan wilderness, a small group of survivors are hunted not only by merciless nature, but also by a pack of territorial wolves. The movie is more than a classic animal horror – it is an existential drama about fear, instinct, guilt and hope.

The Shallows

"The Shallows" with Blake Lively offers a minimalist version of shark horror. When Nancy is surfing alone on a remote beach, she is attacked by a shark and forced back onto a rock in the water – not far away from the safety of the shore. The film uses this simple scenario for an intense, claustrophobic fight for survival.