EMPIRE OF THE ANTS ’70s eco-horror camp classic – free on Tubi and YouTube

‘It’s no PICNIC!’
Empire of the Ants is a 1977 sci-fi horror film

The movie was produced and directed by Bert I. Gordon (Secrets of a Psychopath; The Food of the Gods; The Amazing Colossal Man, Earth vs. the Spider) from a screenplay by Jack Turley, based on a screen story by Gordon, very, very loosely on the short story by H.G. Wells.

The movie stars Joan Collins, Robert Lansing, John David Carson, Albert Salmi and Jaqueline Scott.

A heavenly paradise becomes a hellish nightmare when toxic dumping turns harmless ants into gigantic, rampaging monster insects. Stumbling into their creepy lair, land developer Marilyn Fryser (Joan Collins) and her clients are horrified to realise the ants are devouring humans.

Fleeing for their lives, they discover the giant ants are determined to exterminate humankind and build an evil empire…

“It was as if Gordon had forgotten the rudimentary rules of low-budget film-making that should have been imprinted on his brain since the 1950s. His “classic” creature features are much better than the ones he did twenty years later […] Most of the actors give the movie more than it deserves.” William Schoell, Creature Features: Nature Turned Nasty in the Movies book

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“There are a few “so bad it’s good” moments, some of them involving half decent giant ant effects. But only a few. There is a single plot twist which the trailer gives away to anyone watching it before the film. A waste of time. For good giant ants, please watch Them! For good camp involving real ants, see Ants!” David Elroy Goldweber, Claws & Saucers book

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” …the human’s fright is seen as play acting, and the account of their progress over a gory trail is slow and repetitive. And, aside from some multifaceted ant’s-eye views of humans, the special effects are artificial and unexciting.” The New York Times, June 30, 1977

For more info, images and the trailer, visit page 2

Cast and characters:
Joan Collins … Marilyn Fryser – Tales from the Crypt; Dark Places
Robert Lansing … Dan Stokely – The Nest; 4D Man; Island Claws
John David Carson … Joe Morrison
Albert Salmi … Sheriff Art Kincade
Jacqueline Scott … Margaret Ellis
Pamela Shoop … Coreen Bradford
Robert Pine … Larry Graham
Edward Power …. Charlie Pearson
Brooke Palance … Christine Graham
Tom Fadden … Sam Russell
Irene Tedrow … Velma Thompson

Trailer:

Clip:

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