the vampire bat be definitely of interest and be one of the early genre set horror film of the 1930 and but take in isolation everything be a bit too creaky for any genuine praise . the film be set in a european village sometime in the 19th century and where a series of murder be be attribute to vampirism by the suspicious local . there be a very similar feel to jam whale frankenstein and this be compound by the introduction of lionel atwill dr niemann character and complete with his misguided idea for scientific advancement . the vampire theme be arbitrary and only use a a red herring by have suspicion fall on bat love village simpleton herman ( dwight frye ) and thus provide the excuse for a torch wield mob to go on the rampage a if they need one . this be one of a trio of early horror film in which lional atwill and fay wray co star ( also doctor x and the mystery of the wax museum ) and like their other collaboration the film suffers from ill advise comic relief and a tendency to stray from horror to mainstream thriller element . take in context though and the vampire bat be still weak and derivative . all we be leave with be a poor quality frankenstein imitation and with the vampire elements purely a device to hoodwink dracula fan . but for the title the film would struggle to even be consider a a horror and it be worth note that director frank strayer be do the blondie film a few year later .