Film Club Review #11:
THEM!

Them! (1954)

GENRE: Genre

DIRECTOR: Gordon Douglas

WRITER: Ted Sherdeman, Russell Hughes

STARS: James Whitmore, Edmund Gwenn, Joan Weldon, James Arness

COUNTRY: USA

PLOT: Them! is one of the first of the 1950s “nuclear monster” films, and the first “big bug” feature. A nest of gigantic irradiated ants is discovered in the New Mexico desert; they quickly become a national threat when it is discovered a young queen ant and her consorts have escaped to establish a new nest.


Our latest film club choice is the 1954 nuclear monster hit Them!. Originally planned as a colour and 3D feature the film was eventually released in Black and white with the only colour elements being the shocking red opening credits.

You can see the teams scores for Them! below or find out the team’s thoughts on the film in episode 13 of the MovieMuse Podcast. Don’t forget to let us know your thoughts in the comments below.

Film Club Review
  • Graeme - "the acting was superb"
  • Gordon - "the introduction of the ants killed it a little for me"
  • Mat - "even for the time the special effects were terrible"
  • Simon - "I love these 50s b-movie horror films"
3.3

Summary

Unfortunately it is the introduction of the monsters and their awful special effects that stop this monster movie from being a classic.

 



 

What do you think?

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