One of the first movies to leverage the idea of radiation- it came out the same year the Godzilla debuted in Japan, and two years before Godzilla came to the US theaters.
The effects are rather impressive when you think about them. Full sized bug puppets, which is more effort than many films which just super imposed footage of real spiders or bugs against actors. The giant puppet ants were able to grab and attack actors, which brings to mind the bug animatronics of Starship Troopers.
The plot and execution is pretty good, and the early mystery is actually quite creepy as the investigators uncover ransacked isolated buildings and vehicles with no sensical explanation for the destruction.
I watched this recently as part of my kaiju movie club and I loved it! Really fun film and very watchable even in 2023.
I feel this way about Tarantula. I saw it as a kid and I vividly remembered it. When I rewatched it as an adult, I was surprised it was far less hokey than I feared. It’s actually watchable. It’s notable for being Clint Eastwood’s first movie (though he’s just got a bit part).
Damn commie ants.
Great poster though.
https://www.sothebys.com/en/buy/collectibles/_them-movie-poster-44a2
Have to give a partial nod to The Beast from 20,000 Fathoms (1953) - radiation doesn’t cause the monster in that one, but a nuclear test wakes it up. And the fact that it made a bunch of money (following on from a 1952 reissue of King Kong, originally released in 1933, that did pretty well) is probably partially responsible for Them! being made.
Understandable that the nuclear program (let alone the bombings in 1945) would kick off a “science is dangerous” trope, but I feel like that went on too long and probably fostered mistrust in science to an unhealthy level for decades (yes, I know Frankenstein probably started it).
But I agree with you, Them! is actually a pretty good movie, especially for the time and genre.
I adore Them. Such an underrated gem of a science fiction movie.
See 1974’s Phase IV for another take on ants as the story’s antagonist. It’s notable for being graphic designer Saul Bass’s only directing credit, as well as that general 1970s slow-paced creepiness that is as much atmosphere as story.
Them! makes use of the Wilhelm Scream.
This movie is awesome! I need to rewatch it
Great movie. It was considered a staple of sci-fi cinema by my parents’ generation and was one of the first (if not the first) to use ants as antagonists.
Classic movie. You can get on Blu-ray. Also the Fallout 3 quest “Those!” is based on the movie. Leonard Nimoy is also in the film.
I spent a lot of time long ago playing It Came from the Desert, so this movie was a great find later.
And it just embodies the can-do attitude of America in the 50s! Big hole full of things we can barely shoot thru? Get gas and flamethrowers, and we’re going in! Flying ants? Call in P-80s! The spiritual parent to Aliens. I honestly feel like Aliens is just a remake of Them! With a heaping helping of 80s nihilism and ennui.
I would say, It-Terror from Beyond Space is even more of a remake of Aliens.
I need to watch that!
Absolutely great film - I don’t think many movies now would start a film with a shellshocked child the way this one did…nabbed my wife’s attention immediately and kept her going to the end.
Archive.org is a great resource - just sayin’ 😉
