mysterious murder in a european village seem the result of the vampire bat horde plague the terrify community . this surprisingly effective little thriller be create by majestic picture and one of hollywood poverty row studio . the sparse production value and rough editing actually add to it eerie atmosphere and lend it an almost expressionistic quality . overall and it leave the viewer the feeling of be catch up in a bad dream and which be appropriate for a thriller of this sort . even though the eventual explanation for the hideous crime be quite ludicrous and be not give proper plot development and the film can boast of a good cast . grave lionel atwill give another one of his typically fine performance and this time a a doctor do scientific research in an old castle . beautiful fay wray play his assistant in a role which require her to do little more than look lovely and alarmed . dour melvyn douglas appear a the perplexed police inspector who also happen to be and conveniently and miss wray boyfriend . maude eburne and who could be extremely funny give the right situation and steal most of her scene a miss wray hypochondriac aunt . elderly lionel belmore play the village terrify burgermeister . and little dwight frye and who will always be remember for his weird role in the frankenstein and dracula film and here be most effective a a bat love lunatic .