Ants! (1977)

Purely Joyful Movie!

I like Black Panther, but I didn't like this movie.

What a freaking movie. So many twists and turns. Absolutely intense from start to finish.

One of the most extraordinary films you will see this year. Take that as you want.

A made for TV addition to the "Nature Strikes Back" genre that was prevalent at the time, this shows its audience a pretty good time. Lakewood Manor is a lodge in Arizona (although the production actually filmed in Canada) that ends up under siege by a never-ending onslaught of ants that have become toxic and can kill people provided they bite their victims enough times. Robert Foxworth is the grim-faced, take-charge Mike Carr, a construction worker and the hero of the piece; Lynda Day George is his appealing leading lady, and screen legend Myrna Loy plays Lyndas' wheelchair-bound mom.A number of familiar faces get trotted out, disaster-movie style, for this well-directed tale that delivers a reasonable amount of thrills. While ants may not be among the most off-putting members of the insect world, to see so many of them mobilized here, and to see human beings covered with scores of them will ensure nail-biting tension for the more squeamish people in the audience.The characters are largely standard-issue, but fairly engaging just the same. We also get stock individuals like the stubborn dummy (Steve Franken) who doesn't believe Mike about the killer ants theory, and the worthless jerk (Gerald Gordon) who will be out to save his own skin when the going gets rough. That said, there is a very first-rate cast at work here, although Ms. Loy gets precious little to do after a while. Also turning up are Bernie Casey, Barry Van Dyke, Karen Lamm, Anita Gillette, Brian Dennehy, Suzanne Somers, Stacy Keach Sr., and Rene Enriquez.In a way that hearkens back to sci-fi monster movies of the 1950s, the filmmakers (Robert Scheerer directs from a script by Guerdon Trueblood) take the time to educate us as well as entertain us, with some facts shared regarding the nature of ants.Well done overall, with a particularly effective finale.Seven out of 10.

This one is just for fun. It didn't break any real new ground, but I don't think that was ever the intention. And let's face it, you know if this is going to be your kind of movie from the title. But for those of us that embrace the campy, silly, and low budget, it'll fill the bill just fine. With a cast that is just random enough to make you do a double-take, the actors aren't sleepwalking through by any means. The insects attacking movies were well enough established by the late 70s so everyone is in on the joke and willing to go for it anyway.The ants may be regular size, but that just leans credit to all the shots of them swarming. Some might actually make your skin crawl.

Ants! (1977) ** 1/2 (out of 4) A lakeside hotel is about to be sold off but before that can happen an outbreak of poison ants start killing people. This made for TV film is yet another in a long line of "when nature attacks" films but it's not too bad as long as you don't take it too serious. Suzanne Somers, Robert Foxworth, Lynda Day George, Brian Dennehy and Myrna Loy (!) all have pretty good parts in the film so the familiar cast certainly keeps things going, although all of them have seen better days. As with a lot of films like this, it's best to turn your brain off and just enjoy what's going on in front of your eyes. Once again we get a speech how this is all our fault due to the poisons we use to kill insects. Yes, we are to blame for the ant outbreak because we previously tried to kill them. While the story might be simple and rather brain dead, it does make for a mildly entertaining film. The special effects of all the ants are rather weak as in most cases it seems like something black is just sprinkled around to look like ants. There are a few scenes where we see close ups of real ants eating a butterfly but there's never anything too graphic. The biggest problem with the film is that the ants are never scary and not once did I feel threatened even though people were dying from them. AKA: It Happened at Lakewood Manor.

Construction site unearths an army of toxic ants that engulf the neighbouring hotel. Construction Manager Foxworth and foreman Casey lead the charge to convince the owners of the impending danger, and then save the guests from imminent death.Almost sounds exciting, and while it doesn't quite live up to its premise, a surprisingly good cast and competently handled action sequences contribute to a watchable entry in the "animal attack" film genre.Foxworth plays the hero with macho determination, coming to the rescue of his girlfriend (Day-George) and soon-to-be mother-in-law (Loy) who are trapped in the besieged hotel, along with an assortment of other residents and ring-ins. Suzanne Somers gets star billing despite only being in a minor supporting role, while future star Brian Dennehy chimes in late in the piece as the fire brigade captain who must engineer an escape plan for the trapped victims.Nothing fancy, no expensive special effects, Emmy-award winning performances or memorable dialogue, just the tried and tested disaster film formula, with a new element for excitement. The only real liability, is a somewhat bizarre (and equally absurd) climax ending that might leave the audience a little disappointed.Disbelief aside, "Ants" is a reasonable way to spend an hour-and-a-half, and may leave you hesitant about dismissing the innocuous looking insects, next time they infest your kitchen sink.