My impression is that this film had aspirations to be the "2001" of killer bug movies. It begins in outer space somewhere and apparently some effect out there increases the intelligence of ants on Earth. At least, ants in Arizona, where the rest of the film takes place. In an isolated spot, two scientists in a geodesic lab conduct experiments and later a war with these ants. Micro-photography is employed to show the ants - none of those make-believe Hollywood creations in giant ant movies. The older man (Davenport) is all analysis, all science to the exclusion of human feeling; the younger one (Murphy) feels protective of a local girl (Frederick) whose family was accidentally killed. Of course, the tables are turned as the ants are underestimated. It's an eerie study of people in seclusion, of a menace that no one is clear on or where it's all going.
That's both the strength and weakness of the picture. Some sequences are quite hypnotic but others, after a while, become monotonous. Most of the shots of ants recall "The Hellstrom Chronicle" from several years earlier and have the same compelling impact. There's one scene involving a mantis and a couple of ants which is startling. But the humans are a bit of a bore and the last half-hour winds down way too slowly. It's a waiting game as the scientists wait for the ants to make their next move and then conjecture about a message sent in by the new masters. While the building suspense is, at first, interesting, the viewer expects it to conclude in a way which provides the answers we've been patiently waiting for. Prepare to be let down. I suppose it was intended for each viewer to come up with their own theories. Well, that places the burden on the audience to do all the work in the last 5 minutes. See also "The Naked Jungle"(54) and for a lighter touch, "Antz"(98).
That's both the strength and weakness of the picture. Some sequences are quite hypnotic but others, after a while, become monotonous. Most of the shots of ants recall "The Hellstrom Chronicle" from several years earlier and have the same compelling impact. There's one scene involving a mantis and a couple of ants which is startling. But the humans are a bit of a bore and the last half-hour winds down way too slowly. It's a waiting game as the scientists wait for the ants to make their next move and then conjecture about a message sent in by the new masters. While the building suspense is, at first, interesting, the viewer expects it to conclude in a way which provides the answers we've been patiently waiting for. Prepare to be let down. I suppose it was intended for each viewer to come up with their own theories. Well, that places the burden on the audience to do all the work in the last 5 minutes. See also "The Naked Jungle"(54) and for a lighter touch, "Antz"(98).