Ratboy

For the musician, see Rat Boy. For other uses, see Ratboy (disambiguation).

Ratboy
Cover of VHS release
Directed by	Sondra Locke
Written by	Rob Thompson
Produced by	Fritz Manes
Starring	Sondra Locke Sharon Baird Gerrit Graham Robert Townsend Larry Hankin
Cinematography	Bruce Surtees
Edited by	Joel Cox
Music by	Lennie Niehaus
Production company	Malpaso Productions
Distributed by	Warner Bros.
Release date	October 17, 1986 (1986-10-17) (U.S.)
Running time	104 minutes
Country	United States
Language	English
Budget	$8 million[1]

Ratboy is a 1986 American comedy-drama film directed by and starring Sondra Locke.^[2] The make-up effects were designed by Rick Baker. The film's scenario is at times comic or serious, and one of its peculiarities is that there never is any explanation for Ratboy's origin and existence as a human-rat hybrid.

Principal photography started on September 6, 1985, and ended by November 1985. Ratboy had a troubled production^[3] and was both a critical and commercial failure.^[4]

Synopsis

A former window dresser named Nikki overhears mention of a mysterious "Ratboy" named Eugene while dumpster diving at a dump. After finding and befriending him, Nikki makes several attempts at marketing his uniqueness to the public. At the same time, Eugene wishes to avoid public attention.

Cast

• Sondra Locke as Nikki Morrison
• Sharon Baird as Eugene / Ratboy (credited as S.L. Baird)
  • Gordon Anderson as the voice of Eugene / Ratboy
• Robert Townsend as Manny
• Christopher Hewett as Acting Coach
• Larry Hankin as Robert Jewell
• Sydney Lassick as Lee "Dial-A-Prayer"
• Gerrit Graham as Billy Morrison
• Louie Anderson as Omer Morrison
• Billie Bird as Psychic
• John Witherspoon as "Heavy"
• Charles Bartlett as Catullus Cop
• Nina Blackwood as MTV VJ
• Courtney Gains as Kid in Car
• Diane Delano as Aurora
• M.C. Gainey as Police Officer
• Jon Lovitz as Party Guest
• Bill Maher as Party Guest
• Kathleen Wilhoite as Party Guest
• Tim Thomerson as Alan Reynolds (uncredited)

Production

Rick Baker spent eight months designing the titular Ratboy specifically with Sharon Baird in mind for the role.^[5] The entire pre-production process was kept under wraps, with the project only being announced in the trades four days before shooting began.^[6]

Marketing

The Los Angeles Times shaved six years off Sondra Locke's age in an article to promote the film.^[3]

Release

The film was given a limited opening in only two cities, Los Angeles and New York.^[7]

Reception

The film has a 'rotten' rating of 25% on Rotten Tomatoes. Roger Ebert of the Chicago Sun-Times gave it two out of four stars, calling the film 'perplexing' and criticizing the film's unique premise devolving into a more standard narrative.^[8] Janet Maslin of The New York Times called the film 'disorganized', criticizing the script and directing choices of Locke.^[9] On the opposite end, Michael Wilmington of The Los Angeles Times was more positive, calling the film, 'Grimm Brothers-style, mixing wonder with rough edges, undertones of pain beneath the fantasy.'^[10]

Awards

Sondra Locke received a Razzie Award nomination for Worst Actress.

References

1. https://catalog.afi.com/Film/57795-RATBOY
2. "Ratboy". Turner Classic Movies. Retrieved July 10, 2016.
3. "Locke Exercises Control over 'Ratboy,' Her Career". Los Angeles Times. August 19, 1986.
4. "Ratboy". Rottentomatoes.com. Retrieved 18 November 2021.
5. Malmquist, Alan (September 1987). "Street Trash". Cinefantastique. Fourth Castle Micromedia.
6. Haun, Harry (September 2, 1985). "A star falls out of the Cherry Moon". New York Daily News. p. 2.
7. "'Ratboy': Snared in the Studio Trap". Los Angeles Times. February 15, 1987.
8. Ebert, Roger (November 10, 1986). "Ratboy movie review & film summary (1986) | Roger Ebert". Rogerebert.com.
9. Maslin, Janet (October 17, 1986). "Ratboy (1986) SCREEN: 'RATBOY'". The New York Times.
10. "'Ratboy' Swims Against Mainstream". Los Angeles Times. March 20, 1987.

External links

• Ratboy at IMDb
• Ratboy at Rotten Tomatoes