Reviews

I never thought I could ever rate a 50's big bug flick a 10, but this one earned it. This thing was riveting from start to heart-pounding climax. Everything was right with this one especially the 100% interesting script and the tight direction from Gordon Douglas. The final scene in the storm drains under L.A. had me actually biting my nails yelling at the television as James Whitmore is trying to save the 2 small boys surrounded by hordes of giant mutated ants. Another scene with the newly hatched ants all over the naval ship at sea, was superb. There is not one scene in this that was filler. It plays like a police who-dun-it crossed with a sci-fi film mixed with horror overtones. Even the minor actors from cops to moms to kids were all acted very well.

The original poster for this had a warning "not for children", I can see why, it would be to intense. This was made for older teens and adults and maybe this is why it is so much better than the other giant "thing" movies from that era. A gem from the 1950's that today is still worth watching.

This highly disturbing look at sexuality was way,way,way ahead of it's time in 1952 when Carson McCullers wrote the novel, let alone in 1967 when John Huston was bold enough to bring this to the screen. It concerns a group of people on a Southern army base in the 50's on the verge of sexual discovery and insanity. Marlon Brando plays a repressed homosexual married to the slatternly over sexed dimwit daughter(Elizabeth Taylor)of the army post General. She teases him with taunts over his "lack of interest in her" while she is having an affair with another officer Brian Keith. Brian is married to Julie Harris who has cut of her nipples with garden shears after a miscarriage (symbolically ending her female identification and interest in sex)and now lives in her bedroom, entertained by her effeminate Filipino houseboy as they watercolor, dream of escaping reality and listening to classical music. Meanwhile Brando becomes crazily obsessed with a handsome enlisted (and psychotic) man (Robert Foster) who rides naked on a horse in the woods and eventually begins to tease Brando with sexual nuances. But Foster also is sneaking into Taylor's room at night and doing something (I can not say it here, but it is solo and involves her panties) by her bed while she is in her usual drunken/pills induced stupors. Eventually all this Fruedian psychosis ends in the final explosive scene, a murder. I liked this film because it delves into dark subjects we rarely see on film, the actors are amazing (especially Brando), the photography is top notch and the extremely well written script drips in Southern Gothic guilt, symbolism and remorse (but no redemption). Two scenes that sent chills up my spine was Brando standing in the pouring rain caressing the secretly picked up candy wrapper Foster dropped, as he stares aggressively at Foster entering the barracks to take a shower and the final scene as the camera madly jumps around the room accompanied by one character's horrified screams and another literally gone insane. One of the most fascinating psychological films I have ever seen. NOTE: This film along with another Taylor vehicle "Who's Afraid of Virginia Wolf?" I've been told by a film scholar,were the catalysts for the rating system that emerged in 1968.

POSSIBLE SPOILER ****** Being a very low budget piece, I was really impressed by many aspects of this film such as top notch cinematography (very impressive Euro style), capable cast, good use of backgrounds and a well chosen classical musical score, all aspects usually missing from low budget indies. The problem with the film is it's pacing which is deadly slow, and it's lack of any suspense or emotion. Even with this criticism, the film is still a haunting work even after it's over. I still find myself thinking back on it's disturbing plot. POSSIBLE SPOILER. If anybody else has seen this can you explain the ending in the chapel? Not really sure what it meant, was the victim at the alter, the true villain of the piece (which would explain an earlier scene with the brutal murder in the kitchen) or was the the ending to show the futility of life on the part of the last surviving character. All in all gave it a 7/10. This director has promise, hope he continues his career in his art.

**** Possible Spoiler****After reading the comments on here I thought I was in for a stinker, but I found this film very well made. It kept my interest throughout, was filmed wonderfully, using the Isle of Man locale effectively (at times the sky and landscape looked like out of a fantasy) and overall the plot held up. Yes I agree the mother was naive, but are not most mothers just that, when it comes to their spouse and children, not wanting to believe the worst. Film concerns the birth of the Anti-Christ and those who must protect and nurture his evil body and soul until he is ready to take over the world. This film was truly chilling from the sacrificial murder of the first born child, the other murders that follow, the hedonistic masked birthday party for the Devil's spawn, the Satanic crucifiction, up to the emotional matricide and the astounding prophetic climax. Not as good as "The Omen", of course, but I have to say just a notch below it. No other film made after "The Omen" captured this genre as well as this film. Also this was not a direct to video as another commented, it was released in theaters. 8/10