I feel antsy watching this. It's more of a chore than I anticipated.
All you need to know about 'Phase IV' in a nutshell: There is so little narrative that the first 7.5 minutes are just footage of ants. The plot is laid bare with opening narration, and a subsequent voiceover by the chief protagonist that bleeds into the true beginning of the "story."
The seemingly haphazard way in which characters turn knobs and flip switches in the hastily built lab only demonstrates, to the viewer, how the whole affair is much sound and fury, signifying nothing, as a certain bard once penned. We've already watched for more than 20 minutes before a real sense of plot starts to show up.
Putting aside the sci-fi element that's immediately introduced, of an astronomical anomaly causing changes in ant populations - the basic premise is mildly interesting, to the credit of screenwriter Mayo Simon. The notion of cooperation between species, traditionally in conflict, in common alliance against greater threats - well, what animal lover hasn't dreamed in passing of other creatures on Earth revolting against human dominion?
Unfortunately, possible praise for 'Phase IV' essentially begins and ends there. Saul Bass clearly has many credits to his name in various capacities, but his first and only try at directing a feature-length film leaves much to be desired. Angling a camera toward a scene isn't the same thing as guiding cast or crew to a particular point, or more specifically eliciting a performance from an actor. Simon plays with some noteworthy concepts in his screenplay, but they don't seem fleshed out. Even as conflict rises in the narrative, the whole picture just feels hollow, devoid of heart. Characters are decidedly one-dimensional.
And even still, we get more footage of ants, or other wildlife, much of it with no apparent purpose except to fill time.
It's not entirely terrible - there are a few okay ideas here, and unlikely as it may be, a couple peculiarly well-considered shots. The ending, silly as it is - and, let's be honest, poorly written - is surprising. But overall, 'Phase IV' is just tiring. I began watching with expectations of a schlocky B-movie, and I'm still left disappointed.
Not a movie I'd recommend, to anyone.
All you need to know about 'Phase IV' in a nutshell: There is so little narrative that the first 7.5 minutes are just footage of ants. The plot is laid bare with opening narration, and a subsequent voiceover by the chief protagonist that bleeds into the true beginning of the "story."
The seemingly haphazard way in which characters turn knobs and flip switches in the hastily built lab only demonstrates, to the viewer, how the whole affair is much sound and fury, signifying nothing, as a certain bard once penned. We've already watched for more than 20 minutes before a real sense of plot starts to show up.
Putting aside the sci-fi element that's immediately introduced, of an astronomical anomaly causing changes in ant populations - the basic premise is mildly interesting, to the credit of screenwriter Mayo Simon. The notion of cooperation between species, traditionally in conflict, in common alliance against greater threats - well, what animal lover hasn't dreamed in passing of other creatures on Earth revolting against human dominion?
Unfortunately, possible praise for 'Phase IV' essentially begins and ends there. Saul Bass clearly has many credits to his name in various capacities, but his first and only try at directing a feature-length film leaves much to be desired. Angling a camera toward a scene isn't the same thing as guiding cast or crew to a particular point, or more specifically eliciting a performance from an actor. Simon plays with some noteworthy concepts in his screenplay, but they don't seem fleshed out. Even as conflict rises in the narrative, the whole picture just feels hollow, devoid of heart. Characters are decidedly one-dimensional.
And even still, we get more footage of ants, or other wildlife, much of it with no apparent purpose except to fill time.
It's not entirely terrible - there are a few okay ideas here, and unlikely as it may be, a couple peculiarly well-considered shots. The ending, silly as it is - and, let's be honest, poorly written - is surprising. But overall, 'Phase IV' is just tiring. I began watching with expectations of a schlocky B-movie, and I'm still left disappointed.
Not a movie I'd recommend, to anyone.