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Them!

445 votes

As a result of nuclear testing, gigantic, ferocious mutant ants appear in the American desert southwest, and a father-daughter team of entomologists join forces with the state police officer who first discovers their existence, an FBI agent and, eventually, the US Army to eradicate the menace, before it spreads across the continent — and the world.

Status: Released

Released Date: 1954-06-16

Runtime: 94 mins

Director: Gordon Douglas

Spoken language: English

Genres: Science Fiction, Horror

Original title: Them!

Production Companies: Warner Bros. Pictures

Production Countries: United States of America

Cast

Sgt. Ben Peterson

James Whitmore

FBI Agent Robert Graham

James Arness

Dr. Pat Medford

Joan Weldon

Dr. Harold Medford

Edmund Gwenn

Brig. Gen. Robert O'Brien

Onslow Stevens

Maj. Kibbee

Sean McClory

The Ellinson Girl

Sandy Descher

Trooper Ed Blackburn

Chris Drake

Trooper Capt. Fred Edwards

Don Shelton

Fess Parker

Mary Alan Hokanson

Olin Howland

William Schallert

Ann Doran

Reviews

John Chard

Often imitated, rarely bettered. Weird deaths are occurring in the New Mexico desert, it is revealed to be the work of giant mutated ants born out of the "A Bomb" tests that took place there. Trouble escalates to the big city of Los Angeles when one of the giant queen ants escapes to L.A. and starts laying eggs that could lead to the end of mankind as we know it. This is a cautionary tale about scientific tampering fused with a Cold War theme of destroying a threat to the country. Boasting some wonderful scenes such as the first desert encounter (cloaked in a sandstorm) and the final underground battle, Them! is a truly enjoyable viewing experience. It oozes the right amount of paranoia that became ever more prominent as the nuclear age began grow. The puppetry and special effects on show is of a very high standard for the time (well done Academy Award Nominee Ralph Ayres), and the direction from Gordon Douglas is one of the better efforts in the genre. The tight story vanquishes any gripes about the plausibility factor, while the acting is, perhaps given the type of genre piece it is, of a surprisingly good standard. With James Whitmore, Edmund Gwenn, and Joan Weldon giving it a bit of oopmh. It went on to become Warner Brothers highest grossing film in 1954, and it's really not hard to see why. Because this firmly stands up as one of the better films of what is sadly a much maligned genre. 8/10

2014-09-06

Blackhorse

Great Classic Sci-Fi! This movie came out 7 days after I was born! Because of Nuclear testing. ( Of Course ) Everything happened in the 50's movies because of that, these tiny little creatures become as large as cars and bigger. Ravishing the countryside looking for Sugar, of perhaps a M&M factory. Of course people get in the way and are quickly dispatched in their giant pinchers. Great cast also. A Must see!

2013-05-13

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