Night of the Lepus (1972): Cast, Ratings & Plot
Night of the Lepus is a 1972 sci-fi thriller directed by William F. Claxton, starring Paul Fix, Stuart Whitman and Chuck Hayward. It runs 1 hour 28 minutes. Critics gave it 37 on Metacritic, and IMDb users rate it 4.1/10.
- Released
- Runtime
- 1h 28m (88 min)
- Director
- William F. Claxton
- Original language
-
English - Studio
- Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer (MGM)
- After the credits
- No No extra scene
What Is Night of the Lepus About?
The premise of Night of the Lepus without spoilers. The whole story is in the plot summary further down.
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.
Night of the Lepus Themes & Keywords
· 50 tags- giant rabbit
- mutation
- rampage
- killer rabbit
- giant animal
- ajo arizona
- arizona
- arizona desert
- bloody corpse
- gore
- scientist
- psychotronic film
+38 more Show fewer
- grindhouse film
- invasive species
- population explosion
- shooting a horse
- cattle rancher
- cattle ranch
- american southwest
- experiment
- animal tracks
- gold mine
- mine shaft
- mutant rabbit
- husband and wife team
- storm cellar
- sheriff
- mother daughter relationship
- national guard
- drive in movie theatre
- car headlights
- cult film
- electrocution
- based on novel
- desert
- horse
- mutant
- camp
- news anchor
- tv news
- pest
- zoologist
- bat
- tape recorder
- cyanide
- research
- control group
- laboratory
- cage
- garbage can
Night of the Lepus Cast
Paul Fix leads the cast, with Stuart Whitman and Chuck Hayward. Directed by William F. Claxton; 10 actors are credited in all.
- Director William F. Claxton
Also Starring in Night of the Lepus
· 6 moreMore from William F. Claxton
More films directed by William F. Claxton: Bonanza: The Next Generation, The Canterville Ghost, Stage to Thunder Rock and Law of the Lawless.
Night of the Lepus Reviews & Ratings
Critics gave Night of the Lepus 37 on Metacritic, and IMDb users rate it 4.1/10.
-
IMDb 4.1 /10
See on IMDb -
Metacritic 37 Metascore
User score 2.5
See on Metacritic -
TMDB 44% User score
See on TMDB
Night of the Lepus Plot Summary
What happens in Night of the Lepus from start to finish, spoilers included, with a timeline of 15 key events. The opening is below; the full summary is a 4-minute read.
Spoilers ahead
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.
Full summary
The whole story of Night of the Lepus, scene by scene
Night of the Lepus Trailers & Videos
3 videos: 1 trailer and 2 clips.
- Clip Lepus On The Move
- Clip Long Live Captain Billy
How Well Do You Know Night of the Lepus?
10 questions about the story, each with a hint if you get stuck. Pick an answer to see whether you were right.
Question 1 of 10
- Question 1: not answered
- Question 2: not answered
- Question 3: not answered
- Question 4: not answered
- Question 5: not answered
- Question 6: not answered
- Question 7: not answered
- Question 8: not answered
- Question 9: not answered
- Question 10: not answered
What triggers Cole Hillman's drastic measures at the start of the film?
Cars in Night of the Lepus
12 cars on screen, including the 1972 Chevrolet Biscayne and the 1972 Chevrolet C-20.
-
1972 Chevrolet Biscayne Important role -
1972 Chevrolet C-20 Important role -
1971 Chevrolet Impala Important role -
1972 Chrysler Town & Country Important role
Night of the Lepus Also Known As
14 alternative titles, including “A Noite dos Coelhos” and “Una noche escalofriante”.
- Also known as
-
- A Noite dos Coelhos
- Una noche escalofriante
- Rabbits
- Les rongeurs de l'apocalypse
- La notte della lunga paura
- La noche del conejo
- La noche de los conejos
- Noc lepusa
- Nattens skräck
- La larga noche de la furia
- A vérnyulak éjszakája
- 魔兔之夜
+2 more Show fewer
- 나이트 오브 레퍼스
- Ночь кролика
Seen Night of the Lepus?
Movies Like Night of the Lepus
Films with a similar story, tone or audience, including Night of the Blood Beast, Night Creature and Night of the Zoopocalypse.
Night of the Lepus FAQ: Cast, Runtime & Release Date
Runtime, release date, director, cast, ratings and post-credit scenes of Night of the Lepus, each answered in a sentence.
How long is Night of the Lepus?
Night of the Lepus runs 1 hour 28 minutes (88 minutes).
When was Night of the Lepus released?
Night of the Lepus was released on October 4, 1972.
Who directed Night of the Lepus?
Night of the Lepus was directed by William F. Claxton.
More films by William F. Claxton Who is in the cast of Night of the Lepus?
Night of the Lepus stars Paul Fix, Stuart Whitman and Chuck Hayward, among 10 credited actors.
How is Night of the Lepus rated?
Night of the Lepus has 4.1/10 on IMDb, 37 on Metacritic and 44% on TMDB.
Does Night of the Lepus have a post-credit scene?
No. Night of the Lepus has no extra scene during or after the credits.
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