Sci-Fi Saturday!!! Beyond Them!Part II Ants in the Cinema…Mant, Dead Ant, The Saint? and More if you dare?!
The above sounds like some tagline from a so bad it’s good or one of those their not bad — just misunderstood pieces of celluloid that my friend Mr Lobo ids always talking about on Cinema Insomnia streaming on OSI-74.
(which I say please if have not gotten a Roku yet. I say what is wrong with you. And you call yourself a pop culture junkie.. here is your answer. Do it now!!!)please do and add the app.
After Them!(1954) cinema screens were over run …it was a full scale invasion of all types of bugs,insects and animals modified, mutated by some kind of form of science-be it nuclear, growth hormones, altered genetics or sometimes a combination of. Plus rediscoveries of an extinct species maybe a prehistoric threat…or a Food of the Gods as in HG Welles’ novel of the same title.. a Drive-In circuit mid ’70s feature on a double bill…
Everything from giant mantis, dragonflies(Monster on the Campus),
shrews, cockroaches(Bug), rats, rabbits(don’t ask -it’s too painful), spiders
crabs, mantas, bats, worms, scorpions,eels, leeches, frogs, fish(many genus)
Fireflies(an ancient relative) trapped in some very old trees in a very suspenseful X-Files(series) episode and one of my favorites. This is one must see -must watch several times again. and bees…lots of bees.
But ants wouldn’t see a return as a possible threat to everyday life at the Bijou until the 1970’s and here are just a few of those endeavors taking us from there in to the present.
Empire of the Ants-
DVD release -cover at-missing the Tagline-It’s No Picnic- a film that had far better advertising/promotions(books,posters) than the production actually produced. Played well at the Drive-Ins.
Ants themselves would have their day in Bert I Gordons Empire of the Ants(AIP-Robert Lansing & Joan Collins) one I can not recommend based on a so-so script and a lot of projection special effects. On the big & small screen and back small scale-normal sized but all together troublesome ants. In a jungle setting in an obvious 1954’s The Naked Jungle (Charlton Heston). In the mid 70’s came a super scary and definitely food for thought cinematic and critically acclaimed Phase IV. Intelligent ants (now ponder this we already know ants are highly intelligent think super on the brain waves).
The made for TV fare gave us -It Happened at Lakewood Manor 1977 (Suzanne Somers, Robert Foxworth, Myrna Loy and Linda Day George) explained by some climatic condition that produced these highly poisonous crawlies and that eventually were dispatched by their immediate habitat being obliterated. And thank goodness because there was nothing that seemed to stop these little guys. Indiana Jones and the Crystal Skull gave us some of the most aggressive on-screen ants. They were mean, ugly and did not take no for an answer. These “little” warriors in numbers could drag a person right under the ground. In seconds. Just be glad it’s not you.
Ants would not be big again not until the modern cult classic with tongue firmly in cheek. It’s more than fun-it’s thrill ride — Dead Ant. A nonstop rollercoaster of pure entertainment with Tom Arnold as a manager leading the pack after a rock band stops off in indian territory, Joshua Tree and does the ol “ Please whatever you do, don’t do this” like don’t kill a single thing, not even a fly or an ant this case..… several funny hallucinatory experiences later after toking on some strange” weed” (more like chewing some wild peyote) comes the repercussions.
The band on a comeback tour will be lucky if they just make it back , back to anywhere. Ants of all sizes attack from everywhere. They are jumping, running, burrowing and crunching all in their path. Released in 2017 playing at lots of festivals, it has slowly developed a momentum not unlike the very the monstrous “bugs” it depicts on screen. Now a 2nd release in 2019. This film has developed a following that cried out for more exposure and well deserved. It is quirky. Each and every character right down to the medicine man who puts on war paint to save the day.
For bug-people we were treated to the movie within a movie-Mant the film that was being promoted by a larger than life producer/director/promoter /showman played by John Goodman as Lawrence Woolsey. A character patterned after and portrayed perfectly as an homage/tribute to William Castle (Bug & Thirteen Ghosts). Matinee (1993) a movie set during the Bay of Pigs and the very real threat of nuclear war. Woolsey shows up to promote his latest exploitative production-Mant. In stunning Black.White featuring Atomovision & and The trailer suggests the it is based on scientific fact .This possibly could happen- a horrific version of an “ant man” or bug-person. The story also involves a coming of age tale set in Key West at the time of the Cuban Missile Crisis. And culminates inside a old fashioned movie theater with my favorite-a balcony.
This cinema gem was directed by Joe Dante (The Howling/Piranha). And has the feel of the 60’s right down to the Saturday matinee films for kids, Famous Monsters of Filmland magazines in the background. Movie marquees, the automobiles, soda fountains. Even the Navy base. Looks authentic. The fashions and the colors and furniture in the scenes. Joe creates a feel good movie and with true nostalgic aura. See this film(Available on Bluray from Shout Factory and available to stream on Chiller Theater TV via Roku).
Joe Dante in his own words regarding Matinee..
link-
TV-
Since 1954 we know the big screen has seen all kinds of ants big and small. Well Television is no stranger. Even the famous Simon Templar (Roger Moore) aka The Saint (6 Seasons-’62–’69) had a go at ants-the giant kind. Ones that seem to possess telepathy cand able communicate via radio waves. But here the real monsters was “man”. Again experimenting with mother nature. Almost tipping the scales and throwing the balance of nature completely in the opposite direction. The episode House on Dragon Rock which aired during the 6th season was one of the most atmospheric stories. Set in a small Welsh fishing village, the town folk have been plagued by some very mysterious and unusual circumstances involving mutilated livestock and farm equipment being overturned. Let’s hope Simon is up for this.
Stand by next time when we visit ants in the world of cartoons…so for now I say watch out where you step…
Preview-
