EMPIRE
OF THE ANTS (1977)Director: Bert I. Gordon
MGM
EMPIRE
OF THE ANTS (1977)During the 1950s, producer/director Bert I. Gordon made his mark (and the appropriate title "Mr. BIG") with giant monster epics like THE CYCLOPS, THE AMAZING COLOSSAL MAN, EARTH VS THE SPIDER and WAR OF THE COLOSSAL BEAST, most of which were produced for AIP. After a decade-long hiatus from colossal critters, Bert was back with FOOD OF THE GODS, a screen version of the H.G. Wells novel again made for AIP. Learning that you can't keep a good man down, an immediate follow-up surfaced the next year using another Wells story for inspiration -- EMPIRE OF THE ANTS.
After an obligatory documentary-like introduction on the subject of ants, we learn that canisters (with typical warning signs all over them) of radioactive waste have been dumped in the ocean by some morons in bright orange jumpsuits. One of the canisters washes ashore and leaks silvery ooze all over. The little buggers have a picnic feeding on the stuff, and if Mr. BIG is to live up to his reputation, you know that something bad is going to happen.
In the meantime, a pre-"Dynasty" Joan Collins plays a bitchy (what else?) Realtor who guides a group of potential investors on a tour of a property development in the Florida Keys. Most of guests are misfit types--an alcoholic, a career woman who got fired, a womanizing gigolo and his tolerating wife, an elderly couple along for the free food and drink, etc. We are acquainted with these characters in what appears to be a twisted episode of "Love Boat" or "Fantasy Island," but trouble starts a brewing as one of Joan's employees is found mutilated.
Our group is soon faced with ants, mutated ants of tremendous size. They struggle to get away from them by running through the swamps, at which point it's decided to eliminate some of the disposable cast members, including the cowardly womanizer (played sleazily by Robert Pine, the captain on "CHiPs") who watches his wife get eaten alive, and the old couple who foolishly stray from the rest of the pack. After re-grouping, they escape in a boat, led by a hairy Robert Lansing as the reluctant hired hand who quickly becomes the film's hero.
After fighting off biggy ants left and right, our friends make their way to a nearby township and report what they encountered to the redneck sheriff (Albert Salmi). Detecting that the sheriff is not going to do anything, they make a botched escape (an abrupt car chase), but are apprehended and escorted to a sugar refinery. It is there that they learn that the bugs have control of the peoples' minds after individually being sprayed with pheromones by the queen ant in an isolation booth. Joan gets shoved into the booth and has an orgasmic experience. The others flee thanks to Lansing's quick thinking.
The most notorious thing about EMPIRE OF THE ANTS is its special effects, which aren't as special as they are embarrassing. Remember the grasshoppers in BEGINNING OF THE END that climb off the building and walk straight on to thin air? Well this is worse than that, only keep in mind, a full 20 years later. Real ants are superimposed with the actors, and for close-ups, large rubbery models are used--both painfully unconvincing. Even though Joan deemed this as her worst acting experience, this a bad movie that should suffice for B fans on an ultra-camp level.
MGM's transfer of EMPIRE OF THE
ANTS is another stunner, never looking better. The film is letterboxed in its
original 1:85.1 aspect ratio with anamorphic enhancement. The source print is
in perfect condition, and colors are superb. The mono sound is also very impressive
(especially noisy rattling sounds of the ants). Also included is the original
AIP theatrical trailer, additional French and Spanish audio tracks, as well
as optional French or Spanish subtitles. (George R.
Reis)