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Them!

6.8

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Them!

Original title

Them!

Year

1954

Running time

94 min.

Country

United States

Director

Gordon Douglas

Screenwriter

Ted Sherdeman

Cast

Music

Bronislau Kaper

Cinematography

Sidney Hickox (B&W)

Producer

Warner Bros.

Genre

Sci-Fi. Horror. Fantasy | B Movie. Nuclear Holocaust. Insects. Monsters

Synopsis

That ol' cinematic devil the A-bomb has spawned a colony of giant murderous ants bent on destroying humanity in this, the seminal big bug movie (an obvious and oft-credited influence for Alien among countless others). The special effects may be dated, but this brilliantly rational-sounding film has held up wonderfully in all other regards, including some starkly effective location work in the high Arizona desert, a genuinely inspired sound design guaranteed to bring on the creepy-crawlies, and an unexpectedly dry sense of humor (mainly personified by Grade-A egghead scientist Edmund Gwenn). This is essential viewing for all those who consider themselves science fiction or horror fans. Heroic hardcase James Arness previously played for the other team as the titular character in The Thing from Another World.

Rankings Position

#3 Animal Horror Ranking
#19 Best Monster Movies & Monster Series
#98 Best Horror Movies
#122 Best Science Fiction Movies

Awards: 1954: Nominated for Oscar: Best Special Effects

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Critics' reviews

"[It] can still tingle your carapace, thanks to taut direction, an intelligent script, a believable cast, and a nail-bitingly effective climax in the sewers of Los Angeles."

Entertainment Weekly
"This science-fiction shocker has a well-plotted story [by George Worthington Yates, adapted by Russell Hughes], expertly directed and acted in a matter-of-fact style."

Variety Staff: Variety
"Lovers of science-fiction pictures will certainly go home satisfied. "

Boston Globe
"A first-rate horror film, of which there aren't many"

Philadelphia Inquirer
"The threatened catastrophe, as destructive as any H-bomb, is handled with enough realism and tension to be plenty scary"

New York Daily News
"One of the best of a 1950s spate of monster movies rooted in nuclear paranoia."

TV Guide
"Suffice it to say that the combination of three writers, director Gordon Douglas, producer David Weisbart and a cooperative cast have helped make the proceedings tense, absorbing and, surprisingly enough, somewhat convincing."

The New York Times
"By far the best of the '50s cycle of 'creature features', 'Them!' and its story of a nest of giant radioactive ants (the result of an atomic test in the New Mexico desert) retains a good part of its power today."

Time Out

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Them!

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