The Sea Bat (1930)

In the volatile depths of the West Indies, the island of Portuga ebbs and flows on the perilous trade of sponge diving. The richest bounty lies in treacherous waters, in the shadow of a mammoth manta ray known for its hostility towards the divers, earning it the ominous title of the Sea Bat. Amidst the island's inhabitants, a fierce battle unfolds over Nina, the Pacific's resplendent flower, whose beauty ignites the beastly instincts in men. The island, under the wavering rule of a drunken leader, is far from a paradise, making the struggles of its inhabitants as turbulent as the surrounding sea. Juan, a man whose love for Nina is rivaled only by his merciless nature, cruelly disposes of Nina's brother, Carl, severing his lifeline during a daring dive in the manta ray's territory. As sorrow engulfs Nina, a stranger arrives on the island, Sims, posing as a minister and offering solace in her time of grief. The islanders, however, remain oblivious to the fact that Sims is an escaped convict from the notorious Devil's Island, a fact hinted only by an old poster promising a reward for his capture. Juan's instinctive dislike for the newcomer and Nina's growing fondness for him sets a tense triangle into motion. As the deaths attributed to the Sea Bat mount, Nina finds herself torn between her feelings for her comforter and her loyalty to her island home. In the face of danger and deceit, she must navigate her path, while the shadow of the manta ray looms over the island, adding a layer of palpable tension to this tropical tale of love, loss, and survival.

The Sea Bat is an action movie featuring Boris Karloff and directed by Wesley Ruggles.

The Sea Bat is currently streaming on DIRECTV and TCM.