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1.7 KiB
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1.7 KiB
Plaintext
This is one of a host of films which in the 1970s revived the atomic mutant animal genre popular two decades earlier (exemplified by THEM! [1954] which also dealt with giant ants and where the results had been infinitely better). By the way, these same insects though in their normal size were the subject of PHASE IV (1974) as well; again, that film is superior to the one under review. Unfortunately, the generally low-grade presentation here accentuated by the open-matte framing on the DVD I watched and a cast of future TV regulars (mostly playing stock characters) makes it no better than the typical small-screen product of the era! Joan Collins' presence as what else? a wealthy bitch, then, gives the film added camp value.<br /><br />The ants themselves are fairly ludicrous creations (marred, to begin with, by being allowed too many hairy{?!} close-up shots), while the use of process photography in the scene where they convene in the sugar factory is very obvious effectively destroying the intended illusion of the situation! The fact that the townsfolk are eventually revealed as 'slaves' of the giant ant community after having dissed their existence when reported by the vacationers who fell foul of them on a proposed island resort links the film with INVASION OF THE BODY SNATCHERS (1956) which, incidentally, was about to be remade (the second of four versions, so far!) around this same time.<br /><br />Ultimately, H.G. Wells' ideas in this case seem scarier and more persuasive on paper than on film. At least, the thing is entertaining enough while it's on and I'd still like to check out director Gordon's other Wells adaptation, THE FOOD OF THE GODS (1976), eventually... |