| Released | October 6, 2000 |
| Duration | 89 minutes |
| Director | Steve Barron |
| Written by | Wesley Burrowes (story) |
| Music | Pete Briquette and Bob Geldof |
| Studio | Jim Henson Pictures, Ruby Films and Samson Films |
| Rated | PG |
Rat is a 2000 film, a dark comedy about a Dublin man, Hubert Flynn, who goes home from a night at the pub, and promptly turns into a small white rat. The transformation is viewed by his family not as a shocking or abnormal occurrence, but as an annoyance, a misfortune akin to a crippling illness, or an event which can be profited from. A journalist in particular stokes the family's interest.
Produced by Jim Henson Pictures, with Brian Henson as executive producer. Rat primarily used trained live rodents, for the title character and a few supporting rats. However, Jim Henson's Creature Shop augmented the footage with several duplicate rats of Hubert: a fully animatronic, remote controlled rat for close-ups and movements; a less detailed stunt rat, operated by a device; and various simpler puppets and devices for stunt scenes and specific long-shots.
Cast[]
- Imelda Staunton as Conchita Flynn
- Frank Kelly as Uncle Matt
- David Wilmot as Phelim Spratt
- Pete Postlethwaite as Hubert Flynn
- Ed Byrne as Rudolph
- Geoffrey Palmer as The Doctor
- Kerry Condon as Marietta Flynn
- Andrew Lovern as Pius Flynn
- Niall Toibin as Father Geraldo
- Veronica Duffy as Daisy Farrdell
- Alfie as Mickey the Dog
- Peter Caffrey as Mick the Barman
- Rita Hamill as Estate Woman
- Roxanna Williams as Hopscotch Girl
- Stanley Townsend as Newsreader
- Simon Delaney as Bookies Manager
- Niall O’Brien as Man in Bookies
- John O’Toole as Man in Bookies
- Jer O’Leary as Man in Pub
- Mick Nolan as Man in Pub
- Pat Kinevane as Mr. Reilly
- Mark Doherty as Barrister
- Arthur Riordan as Sergeant Black
- Michael Hayes as Young Garda
Credits[]
- Executive Producers: Brian Henson, Stephanie Allain, Stewart Till
- Producers: Alison Owen, Steve Barron
- Creative Director: Jamie Courtier
- Creative Project Supervisor: Chris Fitzgerald
- Animatronic Project Supervisor: Adrian Parish
- Hair & Fur Supervisor: Vicky Stockwell
- Fabrication Supervisor: Nicola Tedman
- Animatronic designers: Dan Burnett, Chris Coxon
- Workshop Supervisor: Geoff Paige
- Mouldshop Supervisor: Kenny Wilson
- Visual Effects Supervisor: Val Wardlaw
- Visual Effects Coordinator: Nick Drew