Horror

Science Fiction

Empire of the Ants

Cinema 77

American International Pictures

United States of America

English

Joan Collins

Robert Lansing

John David Carson

Albert Salmi

Jacqueline Scott

Pamela Susan Shoop

Robert Pine

Edward Power

Brooke Palance

Tom Fadden

Irene Tedrow

Harry Holcombe

Jack Kosslyn

Ilse Earl

Janie Gavin

Norman Franklin

Florance McGee

Jim Wheelus

Mike Armstrong

Tom Ford

Charles Redd

Dana Kaproff

Michael Luciano

Samuel Z. Arkoff

Reginald H. Morris

Bert I. Gordon

H. G. Wells

Neil Machlis

Hugh Hooker

James Quinn

Ken Miller

Julian F. Myers

Vincent Saizis

Buddy Joe Hooker

Mel Efros

Tommy Magglos

Ellis Burman Jr.

Tom Finan

Adrienne Bourbeau

Lee Heckler

Romaine Greene

Bodie Chandler

William L. Manger

Guy Del Russo

David McGiffert

Lou Noto

Dick Deats

Dominick Bruno

Joanne Haas

Bill Berry

William D. Barber

James E. Foote

Ving Hershon

Billy Hank Hooker

Charles Rosen

Anthony C. Montenaro

Roy L. Downey

Betty Martin

Jack Turley

Drew Struzan

Gimly

The audio in _Empire of the Ants_ is infuriating to the point of being nigh unwatchable. But on mute? By jingo you might just be onto something there.

_Final rating:★★ - Had some things that appeal to me, but a poor finished product._

_**Despondent strangers are thrust into a life-or-death fight near the Everglades**_

A vixen selling questionable swamp land by the ocean in southeastern Florida (Joan Collins) leads a tour of potential buyers suddenly assaulted by colossal ants, evidently altered due to (what else?) radioactive waste. 

"Empire of the Ants” (1977) may have been inspired by HG Wells’ short story, but it wasn’t based on it at all. It’s basically “Them!” (1954) set in the Everglades in living color two decades later and therefore more akin to “Frogs” (1972). The milieu of cynical people struggling to survive in the Florida bog fighting sci-fi jungle creatures reminded me of Steve Gerber’s Man-Thing comics from 1973-1975.

To give an idea of what to expect, it was made by the director of “The Food of the Gods” (1976), “Earth vs the Spider” (1958) and “Village of the Giants” (1965), although it lacks the goofiness of the latter.

Pamela Susan Shoop is a highlight on the female front, along with Brooke Palance (Jack’s daughter).
Meanwhile stalwart Robert Lansing’s acting range consists of grim and slightly less grim. John David Carson and Robert Pine are also on hand (Robert is, incidentally, Chris Pine’s father).

The seriousness is appreciated, but I found the first hour relatively dull, maybe because the melancholy characters are lifeless (initially, at least). Thankfully, everything perks up in the last act for some unexpected happenings. I’m not going to give anything away.

Shooting in remote swampland naturally proved challenging. Proper restrooms were half an hour away by speedboat, which meant an hour delay if the women simply had to go to the bathroom. Joan complained about having to do the boat capsize scene in alligator-infested waters due to a delay in the arrival of their stunt doubles (who would lose the work). But she agreed to do it because the director was starting to describe her as “difficult” and she didn’t want to lose future work being pigeonholed as a prima donna. Despite being a bit of a mess, Pamela stressed that it was a fun shoot.

The film runs 1 hour, 29 minutes, and was shot in Belle Glade, Florida, just south of Lake Okeechobee, with the coastal scenes done at Jensen Beach, an hour’s drive northeast, which is just south of Fort Pierce. So we’re talking about the general region north of the Fort Lauderdale/Miami area.

GRADE: B-/C+

Empire Of The Ants ≣ 1977 ≣ Trailer

David del Valle on EMPIRE OF THE ANTS

Empire Of The Ants Trailer

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Empire of the Ants

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Cast

Joan Collins

Robert Lansing

John David Carson

Albert Salmi

Jacqueline Scott

Pamela Susan Shoop

Robert Pine

Edward Power

Brooke Palance

Tom Fadden

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