The upcoming gothic horror film Nosferatu has gotten positive word-of-mouth ahead of its Christmas Day release, but People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals (PETA) doesn’t seem happy with the use of some of its co-stars; live rats.
In fact, they are planning to have a giant “rat” descend upon the Los Angeles screening of the film this Sunday. They want to set the record straight about how the movie portrays rats as black plague spreaders. The rodent effigy will also have a large sign attached to it reading, “Rats Have Rights! We Didn’t Cause the Plague!”
It is said Nosferatu used over 5,000 live rats during production.
“The big thing that makes it difficult is that we had to contain them for their safety with plexiglass that you don’t see on camera,” director Robert Eggers said. “But what was more challenging was for Emma Corrin, who has live rats placed on their body, and they’re incontinent or defecating and urinating on Emma take, after take, after take. That’s difficult.”
PETA wants people to know that rats are often miscast as disease spreaders and people should not fear them based on that stereotype.
“A human is no more likely to be harmed or killed by a rat in real life than by a vampire, and false portrayals of these animals as harbingers of death deny viewers the chance to see them as the intelligent, social, and affectionate individuals they are,” said PETA’s Director of Animals in Film and Television, Lauren Thomasson. “The only ‘pests’ moviegoers need to be concerned with are directors who subject animals to the chaos and confusion of a film set, and PETA encourages everyone to see through these shameful stereotypes and give rats the respect they deserve.”
The organization says that rats are actually great pets who bond with their families and love affection. They are also less likely to transmit parasites and viruses than cats or dogs.
Visit PETA for more info.
