Empire of the Ants (1977) – Film Review

Director: Bert I. Gordon
Cast: Joan Collins, Robert Lansing, John David Carson
Certificate: 15

By Sarah Morgan

Joan Collins getting her knickers in a twist, massive mind-controlling insects and a plot inspired by a HG Wells tale. What’s not to like about Empire of the Ants?

Well, the special effects aren’t all that special and the acting is, shall we say, variable when it comes to quality, but really, they only help make this 1977 movie top cult viewing.

It all begins when unscrupulous property developer Marilyn Fryser (Collins, of course) organises a trip to a remote beachfront for a bunch of unsuspecting prospective buyers. She hopes to sell them a vision of luxury, one that will come at a price – but not as high as the one some of them will ultimately pay.

“Hugely entertaining”

Anyway, it’s unlikely any of them will invest after the area becomes overrun by man-eating giant ants, creatures who have mutated due to radioactive waste being dumped in the region. It then turns out that they have found a way to control humans, and have taken over a community whose residents can’t help but do their bidding.

Thankfully, some plucky members of Marilyn’s group decide to make a stand…

The film was the brainchild of Bert I Gordon – yes, his initials really did spell BIG, something he seems to have taken to heart when it came to his work. The director/producer and special effects guru specialised in movies featuring giant monsters, including King Dinosaur, The Amazing Colossal Man and Earth vs the Spider.

Despite its shortcomings, Empire of the Ants is one of his most accomplished works and is hugely entertaining.

To give her her due, Collins throws herself into the part, one that isn’t too far removed from that of glossy supersoap Dynasty’s Alexis Carrington, the role that would turn her into a global star during the next decade.

“In-depth”

Marilyn is tough and uncompromising; Collins had to be too – apparently, the nearest loos were a 30 minute drive from the location and some of her scenes meant she looked less than her usual glamorous self, so she was literally ‘mucking in’ with her castmates.

A number of other familiar faces (well, familiar if you’re a fan of low-budget movies and cult TV made during the era), including Robert Lansing and John David Carson, pop up too.

The limited edition Blu-ray release also contains a booklet featuring new writing on the film and the sub-genre of eco-horror, while the ever familiar face of Kim Newman is among the special features, speaking in-depth about Gordon and his projects.

Sarah Morgan( Writer )

Sarah Morgan studied film journalism at post-graduate level with the BFI and has been writing about TV and film for PA Media’s newspaper, magazine and new media customers since 1996. She’s also written for a wide range of other publications, both online and in print, including the book Offbeat and Intermission magazine, and is a regular contributor to the Talking Pictures TV podcast. When she isn’t watching movies, she’s collecting and reading vintage crime and horror paperback books or, for her sins, watching her beloved Sheffield Wednesday.

You do not have any posts.