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Night of the Lepus 1972

A plague of giant, genetically mutated rabbits descends upon an Arizona ranch, causing widespread devastation. Rancher Cole Hillman seeks a solution to the bizarre outbreak, but his actions trigger a terrifying escalation of the creatures' size and aggression. A team of scientists must grapple with the unintended results of their research as they battle an increasingly ferocious and overwhelming horde, struggling to survive against the unexpected threat.

A plague of giant, genetically mutated rabbits descends upon an Arizona ranch, causing widespread devastation. Rancher Cole Hillman seeks a solution to the bizarre outbreak, but his actions trigger a terrifying escalation of the creatures' size and aggression. A team of scientists must grapple with the unintended results of their research as they battle an increasingly ferocious and overwhelming horde, struggling to survive against the unexpected threat.

Does Night of the Lepus have end credit scenes?

No!

Night of the Lepus does not have end credit scenes. You can leave when the credits roll.

Meet the Full Cast and Actors of Night of the Lepus

Explore the complete cast of Night of the Lepus, including both lead and supporting actors. Learn who plays each character, discover their past roles and achievements, and find out what makes this ensemble cast stand out in the world of film and television.


Ratings and Reviews for Night of the Lepus

See how Night of the Lepus is rated across major platforms like IMDb, Metacritic, and TMDb. Compare audience scores and critic reviews to understand where Night of the Lepus stands among top-rated movies in its genre.


Metacritic

37

Metascore

2.5

User Score

Rotten Tomatoes
review

0%

TOMATOMETER

review

27%

User Score

IMDb

4.1 /10

IMDb Rating

TMDB

44

%

User Score

Take the Ultimate Night of the Lepus Movie Quiz

Challenge your knowledge of Night of the Lepus with this fun and interactive movie quiz. Test yourself on key plot points, iconic characters, hidden details, and memorable moments to see how well you really know the film.


Night of the Lepus Quiz: Test your knowledge on the ecological horror film 'Night of the Lepus' from 1972 and its unique storyline involving giant rabbits.

What triggers Cole Hillman's drastic measures at the start of the film?

Full Plot Summary and Ending Explained for Night of the Lepus

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Read the complete plot summary of Night of the Lepus, including all major events, twists, and the full ending explained in detail. Explore key characters, themes, hidden meanings, and everything you need to understand the story from beginning to end.


The film begins with a startling news report that highlights the issue of overpopulation, not only among humans but within the animal kingdom as well. It specifically references the rabbit outbreak in Australia during the 1950s and draws parallels to a similar crisis unfolding in the American Southwest, particularly in Arizona. Here, the rabbit population has exploded, leading to widespread devastation as these creatures consume crops, damage property, and compete aggressively with livestock for limited food and water resources.

As the story transitions to Arizona, we are introduced to Cole Hillman, played by Paul Fix, who is shown riding his horse. Unfortunately, the horse steps into a rabbit hole, injuring itself, forcing Cole to take the drastic measure of shooting it and making the long journey home on foot. Determined to find a solution to the rabbit infestation, he contacts the local university in Ajo for assistance. There, he crosses paths with Dr. Elgin Clark, portrayed by Stuart Whitman, whose initial recommendation is to bring in the same individual responsible for eradicating coyotes—an idea that makes Cole hesistant. Instead, Dr. Clark proposes that Cole consult with the Bennett family, a group of scientific researchers in search of more eco-friendly methods for wildlife control.

We then meet the Bennetts—Roy (played by Chuck Hayward), Gerry, and their daughter Amanda. During this time, Roy is conducting experiments with bats to learn how to manipulate their flight for the purpose of mosquito control, all while avoiding chemical pesticides like DDT. Dr. Clark soon visits Roy, urging him to help Cole with his rabbit dilemma. As they head to Cole’s ranch, they witness ranchers battling the rabbit infestation by shooting, reflecting the desperation of their situation.

Upon reaching the ranch, Cole explains that while he is not an environmentalist, he understands that using poison to kill the rabbits could have dire consequences for his cattle, potentially making his land toxic and barren. Despite his stubbornness, Cole is tempted by Roy’s suggestions to disrupt the rabbits’ reproductive systems or introduce a illness that exclusively targets rabbits. Roy takes some rabbits back to the lab for testing, while Amanda develops a friendship with Cole’s son, Jackie.

Meanwhile, at the university, progress stalls as their experiments yield no promising results, putting Cole’s ranch and livelihood at risk. In a moment of desperation, Cole makes one last attempt with an injection on an untested rabbit, leading to an emotional conflict with Amanda, who has grown fond of the creature. Hoping to spare it from experimentation, she swaps it with one from the control group, believing it’s innocent of harm.

As the narrative unfolds, Amanda’s new pet comes into conflict with Jackie, leading to a sequence where he inadvertently lets the rabbit loose. Tension mounts as the university’s tests continue to fail; some rabbits are growing larger but are otherwise unaffected. Determined to find an unconventional solution, Cole resorts to burning a portion of his land to create a food-less environment for the rabbits—a risky move that pays off temporarily.

The plot thickens when unnatural animal tracks lead Cole and the Bennetts into a mine, where they confront terrifyingly large rabbits. These massive creatures swiftly transform the already critical situation into a life-and-death struggle. Just as they seem to be gaining the upper hand, a series of horrifying events unfolds, including a truck driver succumbing to a rabbit attack.

A tense search ensues, and when they do discover a large number of rabbits, chaos erupts as the group tries to contain these monstrous creatures. An explosion intended to trap them only exacerbates the situation, resulting in a terrifying rabbit attack on Cole’s ranch.

The climax is reached when they strategize using a railroad to electrocute the rabbits as they pass. Reinforcements arrive, yet they face constant pressure from the advancing horde of rabbits. As they put their plan into action amidst a flurry of gunfire, the group must overcome not just the swarm of rabbits but the ensuing panic that grips the town.

In the end, as the dust settles, Cole reflects on the ordeal, revealing that life is gradually returning to normal. With the coyotes returning to help manage the local rabbit population naturally, he extends an invitation to visit his ranch, demonstrating a hopeful outlook for the future beyond disaster. The film concludes with a message about the balance of nature and the lengths we will go to when faced with an ecological crisis.

Uncover the Details: Timeline, Characters, Themes, and Beyond!

Watch Trailers, Clips & Behind-the-Scenes for Night of the Lepus

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Watch official trailers, exclusive clips, cast interviews, and behind-the-scenes footage from Night of the Lepus. Dive deeper into the making of the film, its standout moments, and key production insights.


Official Trailer

Cars Featured in Night of the Lepus

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Explore all cars featured in Night of the Lepus, including their makes, models, scenes they appear in, and their significance to the plot. A must-read for car enthusiasts and movie buffs alike.


Chevrolet

1972

Biscayne

Chevrolet

1972

C-20

Chevrolet

1972

Chevelle Concours Estate

Chevrolet

1971

Impala

Chevrolet

1971

Sportvan

Chrysler

1972

Town & Country

Dodge

1962

D-300

Dodge

1972

D-Series

Dodge

1961

WM300 Power Wagon

Ford

1970

F-Series

Movie Themes and Keywords

Discover the central themes, ideas, and keywords that define the movie’s story, tone, and message. Analyze the film’s deeper meanings, genre influences, and recurring concepts.


giant rabbitmutationrampagekiller rabbitgiant animalajo arizonaarizonaarizona desertbloody corpsegorescientistpsychotronic filmgrindhouse filminvasive speciespopulation explosionshooting a horsecattle ranchercattle ranchamerican southwestexperimentanimal tracksgold minemine shaftmutant rabbithusband and wife teamstorm cellarsheriffmother daughter relationshipnational guarddrive in movie theatrecar headlightscult filmelectrocutionbased on noveldeserthorsemutantcampnews anchortv newspestzoologistbattape recordercyanideresearchcontrol grouplaboratorycagegarbage can

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