Deadly Eyes

Deadly Eyes

Year: 1982

Runtime: 87 mins

Language: English

Director: Robert Clouse

HorrorScience FictionThrillerHorror the undead and monster classicsGory gruesome and slasher horror

Steroid‑tainted corn feed creates gigantic rats the size of small dogs that begin attacking Toronto residents as night falls. College basketball coach Paul teams up with health inspector Kelly to trace the source of the mutant infestations. Together they race to locate the nest and stop a new subway line from unleashing a city‑wide massacre.

Warning: spoilers below!

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Timeline – Deadly Eyes (1982)

Trace every key event in Deadly Eyes (1982) with our detailed, chronological timeline. Perfect for unpacking nonlinear stories, spotting hidden connections, and understanding how each scene builds toward the film’s climax. Whether you're revisiting or decoding for the first time, this timeline gives you the full picture.

1

Giant rat outbreak begins as grain is burned

Giant steroid-fed rats living in mountains of grain are rendered homeless when Kelly Leonard orders the grain burned down. The heat drives the rodents into the city, setting the stage for a widespread infestation. This opening sequence establishes the unusual threat that will terrorize the population.

opening grain storage
2

Rats migrate to a suburban home and threaten a toddler

The rats migrate to a suburban home where unsupervised high school students reside. They begin to kill, including a toddler left unattended in a high chair. The danger spreads from urban centers to civilian households.

early suburban home
3

Henry Younger is attacked in the snowy streets

Senior citizen Henry Younger is attacked by the rats while walking alone on the snowy streets at night. The attack demonstrates the rats' growing boldness and reach beyond indoor spaces. The town begins to fear the escalating threat.

night city streets
4

The health inspector confronts the sewer rats and dies

George Foskins, a health department field inspector, ventures into the sewers and encounters a pack of rats. He initiates the 'running of the rats' in the sewer, a doomed attempt to control the outbreak, and is killed by the pursuing rodents. The sewer encounter marks a turning point in the crisis.

in sewer city sewer
5

Paul contacts Louis; the 'super-rat' theory emerges

Paul Harris phones his friend Louis, a professor and rat expert, who concludes that steroid feed has spawned a new breed of 'super-rat' migrating into the sewers. Louis's assessment prompts the health authorities to rethink their response. The discovery heightens the perceived severity of the threat.

evening city
6

Sewer fumigation proves ineffective; Dr. Spenser is killed

Following Louis's warning, the Health Inspector orders fumigation of the entire sewer system. The effort is promptly shown to be futile as the rat onslaught continues unimpeded. The rat expert, Dr. Louis Spenser, is killed during the escalation, underscoring the danger the city faces.

shortly after fumigation city sewers
7

Rats strike public venues: bowling alley and cinema

The rats move into public spaces, staging a mass attack at a bowling alley and then a movie theater. Patrons flee in panic as the rodents overwhelm the venues. The attack claims many lives, including Trudy White, the high school cheerleader.

evening bowling alley and cinema
8

Mayor Rizetti's subway inauguration descends into chaos

Mayor Rizetti prepares to inaugurate a new subway section amidst the spreading terror. In the ensuing chaos, he escapes the crowd and stows away on the empty subway train, becoming a potential target for the advancing rats. The situation escalates into a desperate race for survival.

ceremony subway station
9

Paul confronts authorities and takes action in the tunnel

Paul tries to stop the dangerous subway festivities and, after a confrontation, is forced to assault a police officer to take his revolver. He descends into the tunnel where he encounters a disabled subway train with passengers emerging from their cars. The crisis deepens as the rats threaten those inside.

during crisis subway tunnel
10

Kelly, Paul, and his son survive the train attack; Rizetti dies

Paul discovers Kelly and his son as the rats attack the passengers on the train. Mayor Rizetti is killed by the rats off-screen during the mayhem. The trio's survival hinges on their ability to navigate the collapsing tunnel and train ordeal.

crisis moment subway tunnel and train
11

Survivors flee to a rats' nest and ignite a flame

The three survivors escape into a fenced-in maintenance area that doubles as the rats' nest. They find cutting torches and drums of flammable liquids, then ignite the materials to create a blaze. The explosion decimates many of the pursuing rats and provides a path to escape.

during escape tunnel maintenance area
12

Final confrontation and ambiguous aftermath aboard the subway

The survivors reboard the subway train to seek safety as the platform looms. It is revealed they shared the train with Mayor Rizetti, and a few rats still survive, feasting on the mayor's body. The final shot shows a bloody rat hissing at the train window, leaving the fate of the city unresolved.

aftermath subway train and platform

Last Updated: October 09, 2025 at 14:56

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Characters, Settings & Themes in Deadly Eyes

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