Is this a straight to TV film by any chance? It certainly felt like it from the get go although this wasn't as tacky and cheap as other films I've seen in the last five years so credit where credit is due, it's not as bad as it easily could have been. Let's face it, there have been lots of films made already which deal with rats as a theme so this wasn't anything startlingly new but it was handled in a refreshing way. Fuelled by narrative rather than blockbuster action this film trundles along nicely and doesn't do anything too wrong. It's got suspense and tension and the special effects and minor use of CGI work well. A New York department store noticed it had a minor pest problem, they called in the professionals to deal with it who uncover that the minor problem is in fact a lot worse than thought. Meanwhile other reports circulate pointing towards the problem being less localised than just the store. The exterminator becomes detective and finds out that the rats are a rouge swarm which have been manipulated and mutated by science. Left abandoned the rats do the natural thing and try and support themselves to escape the science lab and live. In doing so they become a menace to the local populace as they nibble, bite and spread disease. Can the exterminator crack the problem and save the city before the problem gets out of hand? 5 out 10

So according to this movie, rats outnumber humans in NYC nine to one. I accidentally got caught up in this predictable piece of cheese while flipping channels, error. Avoid this if you can. I don't think it's a good sign for a movie when you find yourself pulling for the rats - hoping they eat all the actors ...and the cameraman. Though I will hand it to them, they made me not want to ride a subway ever again. And while I'm sure a 3am viewing of this film would be more creepy-crawly, even the 2pm version was enough to make y'squirm. But why? Why do we need this movie. I guess there's an answer: 30 years ago, they brought in cats to handle the rat problem in my neighborhood (true story), and after this film, I feel I owe the then-mayor a thank-you note. Maybe I'll track him down.

It's amazing what you can achieve if you dispose over a bit of professionalism. Even the most routine straight-to-cable production can be worth watching if the acting and directing is a little decent. It was the Fox Network that hired John Lafia (Man's Best Friend) to do the directing and the still yummy Mädchen Amick for the female lead. Vincent Spano (Alive) and Daveigh Chase (The Ring) complete the above average cast. The premise of a giant rat-plague threatening a big city isn't exactly new, but still this film succeeds in bringing a bit of tension and entertainment. Mostly thanks to the excellent underground shooting locations (basements, sewers, subways…) 'the Rats' looks icky and a bit unsettling. The rats naturally are slightly mutated by lab-tests and therefore a lot more aggressive and more difficult to annihilate. The grotesque finale in which a swimming pool is used as a rat-fountain is very over-the-top, yet brightly and well elaborated. Mädchen Amick is a seriously underrated actress and I hope she'll receive some new, bigger acting offers real soon. Vincent Spano is pretty good as well and he clearly enjoys sharing rat-trivia with the viewer. I don't know if all what he said is true (for every inhabitant in NY there are 9 rats?? You can get Weil's disease from a rat-bite??) but it was interesting nevertheless. Recommended!

Creepy crawly things that sneak up on you.....As prior comments said, well done for cable. If rats really do terrify you, then of course skip it. But if appreciate the scary genre well directed & played, then this is the deal.Gotta look up the dir. John Lafia. Oh 1990 Child's Play IIhmm I'm a Chucky fan for their clever interplay of humor & scare. The Rats has a bit of corp satire. Dif writer tho than Chucky.N2RODES