From The Devil Bat onwards, Lugosi’s roles became demeaning self-parodies, until the final indignity of his posthumous appearance in Plan Nine From Outer Space. As it stands, The Devil Bat is a grim forewarning of the rest of Bela’s career. The plot is ridiculous, the so-called special effects somewhat less than special, the acting is universally terrible, and the direction mediocre. Which is not to say The Devil Bat is extremely enjoyable to watch, especially with a few friends late at night.
