Them! This is one of them. The special effects are not bad for a 50's film....... in fact pretty good for a 50's film. He finds her trailer ripped apart and her parents missing. And is in love with both of them at the same time. In the first half hour, the viewer thinks that he is looking at a whodunnit until the appearance of the giant ants. Whenever one thinks about the many horror movies of the 50s, it's nearly impossible to not think about the multitude of creature features that had in common a basis on science-fiction that reflected the newly discovered fears of uncontrolled science and the cold war paranoia; and when one thinks about this 50s creature features, the ideas of cheesy story lines and laughably awful special effects quickly come to mind as those were two elements typical in many low-budget productions. This movie is a mystery-horror hybrid, and one of the best at maintaining tension and suspense. The direction and script are superb. In conclusion an above-average slasher-flick for grown-ups! A movie which I never tire of watching. aren't the questions that come to my mind, anyway, while I watch the movie. You might develop a fear of ants after this one!!! Stronger, though, is a simple sequence of shots that confirm their fate. This is the kind of stuff I grew up on as a kid, watching science fiction and horror movies on TV which had been originally released in the 1940s and 50s. The plot was ridiculous, full of holes and quite uninteresting. It starts off really eerily with a wandering child in shock in the desert and from there on , it builds up into a masterpiece of good acting, and amazing special effects! Fast-moving story with thankfully next to nothing love interest, a good cast, wonderful soundtrack and photography. 1.2 million of those votes came from men. This is the granddaddy of 'em all, the film that pretty much started giant bug genre of sci-fi films and spawned countless imitators, none of which are remotely as good as this one. Ben Peterson who discovers a little girl wandering in the desert. Fits perfectly in to it's short running time of 77 minutes. I liked the turnabout on the theme of following the light to safety as the couple forever seek to escape the light of the pursuing electric torches and car which the young gang employ. is the best giant bug movie of the 1950's and one of the best, if not the best monster movie of the decade. It was short (77 minutes) but effective. And this story is very simple: A couple alone in a secluded home being terrorized by "Them." Same locations but the steam locos have long gone. While THEM may not be a horror film for everyone out there, it is a film you'll either love or hate. I had my hand close to my face for much of it, just waiting for the shocks. Regardless of whether you believe it or not, this is a film that everybody who loves 50's sci fi movies should see. Rated the #27 best film of 1954, and #4291 in the greatest all-time movies (according to RYM users). Rate This Movie. Amazing suspense, mediocre everything else. There's life in the stalk and slash film yet, Yours cruelly, angry mob (with thanks to The Kaiser Chiefs). And the question hanging in the air all to the end is why? Sorry but I'm a woman who weighs 9.5 stone and I could have easily thrown that kid off my back by simply getting up, kicking, rolling over or all of the above. I found Them to be kind of a "meh", take it or leave it film. If I were to write a review something along the lines of: "Them! and its story of a nest of giant radioactive ants (the result of an atomic test in the New Mexic Either way, 'Them!' Released in 2006, Ils (Them English title) is one of those non-descript movies that easily gets passed over on the DVD rental racks, largely because it's a foreign film that doesn't carry much in the way of marketing fanfare, all of which is too bad because it's among the very best of the horror/thriller genre. The script is literate and you can almost believe the premise of radiated mutated ants. In fact, the giant insects in "Rodan" were a directly inspired by "Them". He, Whitmore, and Gwenn prove to be great pest exterminators though their methods are a little unorthodox, while poor pretty Joan Weldon sort of tags along after the guys in typical 50's style. The story is pretty simple and you've seen it before (Some innocent people living in a remote location gets terrorized by evil people), but what made it so great was the direction and the actors. Probably the best of the 50's mutated insects/animals/humans films. It "annoys me that some people call the special effects in this film "bad" or "good for its time". Enjoy! The action breaks down into two distinct sequences, the first as the couple are chased throughout the strangely massive decrepit and distinctly intimidating house they inhabit, with more than a nod to "The Shining" along the way, the second the external sequence in the grounds of the property as the girl, having abandoned her wounded lover to his fate, blunders madly through the woods (reminiscent of "The Blair Witch Project") before ending up trapped in the underground sewage network, where she too meets her no doubt grisly fate. More information about Them! We didn't know what atomic energy could do and this movie expresses our fears in such a homey way. This 1954 film is a classic: first-rate cast, intelligent screenplay, and exceptional special effects. To say this is the best giant bug movie from the 1950's might sound like a backhanded compliment but it's not intended that way. from 1954 - click SHOW MORE tab for further links. This film is entirely different. Join / Sign Up Keep track of your favorite shows and movies, across all your devices. Based on a true life story, this film speaks to the banality of violence, and the essence of fear. and they're pretty creepy, enough to keep you looking over your shouldar But what I really love about this movie is the script, which is unusually good for a sci fi of this period and the fact that it all sounds so scientifically possible. The particular strength of "Them" is that the movie is totally focused on the things that matter: the fright, the darkness, the running. Dr. Medford has a theory but won't tell Peterson or Graham until he has more proof. Definitely not recommended for those with heart problems - honest, this had my heart racing. From that moment, the lives of this couple are changed. The perpetrators (Them) are either fleetingly shown, or not shown at all, but they make noises. In fact, this film was the inspiration for "Godzlla" (or "Gojira" as he is known in Japan). in stature and enduring greatness. The couple attempt to seek shelter at home and away, but the strangers have different ideas. The 11 year old was the kid supposedly holding Clem down. Inqueery Inqueery is the series that takes a deeper look at the meaning, context, and history of LGBTQ+ vocabulary and culture. Sandy Descher as the traumatized child is very affecting and is the first to say "Them" in reference to the giant ants. "Is it realistic?" Like most every movie, it was shot on 35mm film, which has a full-screen aspect ratio. As a result, although there is a certain fun factor to watching giant ants threaten the survival of the human race, Them! Genres: Science Fiction, Giant Monster, Natural Horror. But wait a minute. Available on. At a large, secluded house in the countryside, a teacher and her writer husband are terrorized by a group of hooded strangers. Them was the best giant bug movie. The shocking conclusion, revealed in typeface over the end-titles, is that the pursuing angry mob are no more than a bunch of youngsters out for kicks at night-time. Then too, her single word eruption in the van may be the single scariest moment and a genuine inspiration on somebody's part. "Them" is simply one of the most influential films of all time. Speaking of impressive, how about those special effects? ). All they're doing is just what real ants would actually do--which makes things even scarier, given that we know how single-minded and vicious real ants can actually be. In this film, the entire cast is absolutely top notch, led by James Whitmore as the policeman with a BIG problem. When the film reveals who our heroes have been running from, it is a modest surprise. That is why Ils is something more than a positive surprise. Them! A 'hoodie', for the benefit of non British readers, is a youth who wears, as the name suggests, a hooded sports top. This film is a joke and quite frankly made me laugh. (1954) - Gordon Douglas on AllMovie - A little girl is found wandering in the desert,… We were scared to death, and hid behind the trees and bushes just watching for them. is something special. is a 1954 science fiction film directed by Gordon Douglas. I would appreciate more information on the real events on which "Them" is based, so if anyone knows more, please contact me. She lies to both of them. Interesting to compare the shots in the LA drainage canals with those in 'Grease'. Great unexpected conclusion. What a pleasant surprise this film was. But Them! I guess it takes a big man to defeat big ants and thank goodness James Arness has switched to our side since menacing the North Pole in The Thing (1951). It's a perfect cinema experience however. The two films might compliment each other well in a double feature setting. Film Review: Them! I've read that people think it's predictable - maybe so. was one of the very best. I lived in Montrose MI at the time and when it was over my mother told us to go out and play. Films like this are a must see for horror fans everywhere as this is a flawless monster film that has a lot to offer to the genre. We do get an satisfying explanation. Definitions by the largest Idiom Dictionary. It literally drips with suspense from the opening scenes, right up to the last few minutes. Rent $2.99. This film also works as a murder mystery as well. Note the many nice touches from both the producer and director-- the well-stocked press conference, the army units deploying in the background, the humorous aside from the ugly guy in the hospital. Of course, Edmund Gwenn is terrific as the lead scientist......always delightful in any part, he handles his role with a bit of humor in the midst of death and destruction. As some other comments have pointed out, "Ils" really doesn't have much of a story to it. The film is based on an original story treatment by George Worthing Yates, which was then developed into a screenplay by Ted Sherdeman and adaptation by Russell … I would definitely recommend it for the masterful creation of suspense. Them stars James Whitmore as New Mexico Police Sgt. I thought this movie was great! As has been my habit of late, I'm catching-up on old movies I remember from my youth seen on the screen at the time of release or remembered from '60s-'80s replays on late-night television. ;), If you are a fan of atomic age sci-fi, this is the absolute best film you,ll ever see. Directed by: Gordon Douglas. Subscribe to 'them.' That being said, I don't have a lot of things to say about this French offering. While I would never classify "Them" as science fiction in the least, it is definitely a keep-you-on-the-edge-of-your-seat thriller, but one tastefully made without gratuitous violence or gore. Set your filters according to your mood and let our engine suggest you movies. I first saw THEM! Surprising lack of violence which was very refreshing, which helps make an even stronger case for this film. is awesome because it depicts giant irradiated ants, and giant irradiated ants are cool", I'd probably be shot. It builds beautifully, is directed by two craftsmen in their art and the performances from the two main actors are very natural and just excellent. Shop Vinyl and CDs and complete your Them collection. The special effects WERE good! The marauding ants in "Naked Jungle," advancing across a desert, are matched by the monsters in "Them!" "Them" is simply one of the most influential films of all time. it just goes to show you don't need multi-million dollar actors and CGI to scare people these days. The “atomic demons” are giant resin-made ants. Although the "atomic-radiation-causing-terrible-mutations" was a standard device in 50s sci fi (THE DEADLY MANTIS, IT CAME FROM BENEATH THE SEA, and others), it was a workable one, and given that the ants were from the same area of desert where the first atomic blast occurred, it had just enough plausibility. The final shot was very chilling in it's implications, but perhaps portrayed the antagonists as being somewhat too detached, which for me, seemed to nullify the overall impact of the film. This puts a new spin on the stalk and slash movie by eschewing previous devices such as supernatural beings, reincarnated murderers or chainsaw wielding psychopaths. Fueled by an excellent cast and very interesting plot line THEM is one of those rare sci-fi,s of the 50,s that is not only entertaining, but is also shocking in its portrayal of what could happen due to mans abuse of nuclear energy...I,ve viewed this movie countless times and it has never failed to leave me without the message "What If" The film moves at a steady pace with the police searching the desert for a missing child that had been spotted..shortly after finding her the searchers encounter a mobile home that has been torn apart, but strangely from "the inside out". Definitely worth 93 minutes of your time. Simply put: They didn't deserve it! The french couple were also very likable, so you could really feel for them when the nightmare began. The movie “Them” revels in atmosphere, using long unbroken takes and ambient sound to lull you into complacency before unleashing nerve-jangling shocks. whatever happened to the idea of making films this way? Humanity confronts its most awesome challenge from hideous hordes of gigantic ant mutations spawned by atomic fallout. Good casting, dialog, and storyline, and commendable special effects for the time. (1954) on IMDb; How does it work? European cinema is best known for its disturbing narratives filled with relentless violence, gore and brutality when it comes to horror and fans like me love all this but Them was a different experience altogether, that didn't rely on all the above said stuff and surprisingly it turned out to be pretty good. Especially when one's adrenaline is pumping I imagine it would be quite difficult to pen them down if you're a full sized adult much less an adolescent youth. Our review of the 1954 classic horror film starring Edmund Gwenn, James Whitmore, James Arness and Joan Weldon. A mom and daughter drive in a minivan at night and in the rain (of course) and while they fight, mom runs into a tree while trying to avoid something or someone on the road. 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