Them! (1954)

Them! (1954) – Atomic experiments result in giant ants that rampage across the American southwest.

Directed by Gordon Douglas                      Starring – James Whitmore, Joan Weldon, Edmund                                                                                                                 Gwenn, James Arness

This is your classic, 1950’s “Big Bug” horror flick.  The atom bomb was one of the great fears of the age.  And Hollywood jumped on that fear with both feet.  Mad scientists tried to use them for their own nefarious ends.  Science creates unintended consequences through research into atomic power.  God alone knew what might happen next.  Out of that came some fun monster movies as all kinds of small and unthreatening beasts were transformed into monstrous man-killers.

It’s easy to write off these old movies because their special effects are so primitive.  “Them!” was nominated for an Oscar for the effects, so keep in mind this was pretty top-flight stuff for the day.  Wisely, they keep the giant ants to a limited number of appearances. 

The other worthy of note aspect is the cast.  It’s a solid group that included several who would become familiar on television (most especially James Arness).  Gwenn is best known for playing Santa in “Miracle on 34th Street”.  Whitmore had a long and distinguished career on stage and screen.

Good cast and director, solid production values make this a fun flick for the whole family.

Why You Will Like It – Back to a simpler age when you could be a little scared and still laugh at the monsters all at the same time.

Rating – **** Recommended