This is certainly among the better of the monster animal cycle of the 1970s its title probably derives from H.G. Wells' story "Empire Of The Ants", coincidentally brought to the screen that same year (and which I just watched last week). This viewing came by way of Goodtimes' open-matte DVD release touted as being a "25th Anniversary Special Edition" but is, actually, an utterly bare-bones affair!
Anyway, the film's the main thing and it's a solid, old-fashioned (meaning enjoyable and unpretentious) genre entry even if the casting of William Shatner in the central role lends it definite camp value! As was the case with many similar films of its era, the atomic implications redolent during the subgenre's 1950s heyday are largely jettisoned here in favor of an ecological concern which, if allowed to go out of hand and not looked after promptly, could bring an imbalance to our current system of life with effects that would be just as devastating as any nuclear blast!
Interestingly, however, the narrative seems to be as much inspired by the recent success of JAWS (1975). The small town held in thrall by the spider 'invasion' is about to enter its most productive season; so the Mayor contrives to deal with the situation as quickly and with as little fuss as possible by having the crops in the entire area sprayed with insecticide. In the process, he completely disregards the warnings of an entomological expert called upon the scene who claims that, by doing so, he'll effectively be accentuating the problem and not solve it! Having made the latter a woman (and sexy B-movie starlet Tiffany Bolling at that!), it comes as no surprise at all that romance soon blossoms between her and town doctor Shatner (after overcoming the equally predictable initial animosity). These, however, are reasonably fleshed-out characters so that one genuinely cares about their plight (in this respect, a love triangle element involving the widow of Shatner's brother and played by the actor's current spouse is subtly incorporated here). Woody Strode appears as the farmer whose property is first hit by the 'plague'.
Given the obvious low-budget afforded the production, visual and make-up effects are no more than modest yet these extend to the corpses of the various human and animal victims, a plane explosion, and the mayhem caused by the spiders in the village center. The downbeat climax, then, sees the very last few survivors barricaded in the local tavern capped by a great closing shot (which is alone worth the price of admission!). Unfortunately, the rental copy I watched was scratched which resulted in minor freezing issues towards the end.
Anyway, the film's the main thing and it's a solid, old-fashioned (meaning enjoyable and unpretentious) genre entry even if the casting of William Shatner in the central role lends it definite camp value! As was the case with many similar films of its era, the atomic implications redolent during the subgenre's 1950s heyday are largely jettisoned here in favor of an ecological concern which, if allowed to go out of hand and not looked after promptly, could bring an imbalance to our current system of life with effects that would be just as devastating as any nuclear blast!
Interestingly, however, the narrative seems to be as much inspired by the recent success of JAWS (1975). The small town held in thrall by the spider 'invasion' is about to enter its most productive season; so the Mayor contrives to deal with the situation as quickly and with as little fuss as possible by having the crops in the entire area sprayed with insecticide. In the process, he completely disregards the warnings of an entomological expert called upon the scene who claims that, by doing so, he'll effectively be accentuating the problem and not solve it! Having made the latter a woman (and sexy B-movie starlet Tiffany Bolling at that!), it comes as no surprise at all that romance soon blossoms between her and town doctor Shatner (after overcoming the equally predictable initial animosity). These, however, are reasonably fleshed-out characters so that one genuinely cares about their plight (in this respect, a love triangle element involving the widow of Shatner's brother and played by the actor's current spouse is subtly incorporated here). Woody Strode appears as the farmer whose property is first hit by the 'plague'.
Given the obvious low-budget afforded the production, visual and make-up effects are no more than modest yet these extend to the corpses of the various human and animal victims, a plane explosion, and the mayhem caused by the spiders in the village center. The downbeat climax, then, sees the very last few survivors barricaded in the local tavern capped by a great closing shot (which is alone worth the price of admission!). Unfortunately, the rental copy I watched was scratched which resulted in minor freezing issues towards the end.