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Them!

Plot

Author: Alessandro Venditti
Adaptation: Kevan Houser

Two state troopers, alerted by a spotter aircraft, locate a young girl in a state of shock wandering through the New Mexico desert. Not far away, the officers discover a trailer that’s been ripped apart by something with superhuman strength. The creatures responsible for the destruction are mutant ants of colossal dimensions.

The police, assisted by an eminent myrmecologist, locate the gargantuan insects’ nest and saturate it with cyanide gas. Unfortunately, before the nest is disinfected, a few mutant insects (including two queens) escape in search of a suitable place to establish new colonies.

The army and the police will have to quickly locate those new colonies in what shapes up to be a race against time with the very fate of mankind hanging in the balance.

A fantastic mutation. Probably caused by lingering radiation from the first atomic bomb.

Critique

6
Author: Alessandro Venditti
Adaptation: Kevan Houser

Minor 1950s sci-fi horror classic, “Them!” offers a groundbreaking take on the theme of man-made radioactive pollution causing insects to mutate. These anxieties are repeatedly highlighted by Dr. Medford’s alarming statements, such as: “When Man entered the Atomic Age, he opened the door to a new world. What we may eventually find in that new world, nobody can predict“.

Besides being one of the first films to make worthy use of the desert setting so prized by Jack Arnold, it also ushers in a prolific sub-genre featuring giant arthropods appearing in a string of later films such as “Tarantula!” (1955), “The Deadly Mantis” (1957), “The Black Scorpion” (1957), and “Earth Vs. the Spider” (1958).

Fans of sci-fi essay films will appreciate this one, given they’re undoubtedly accustomed to and willing to overlook the structural weaknesses typical of B movies of the period: uneven pacing, rather mediocre performances, and special effects that aren’t always up to snuff. Among fan-favorite scenes, we would cite the famous finale in the Los Angeles sewers.

More Info

This movie details synthesis may not contain all cast or crew.
Original Title:
Them!
Original Language:
en
Year:
1954
Runtime:
94
Production Companies:
Warner Bros. Pictures
Production Countries:
US
Also Known As:
Assalto Alla Terra (IT), Formicula (DE), La Humanidad en Peligro (ES), Són Elles! (ES), Des Monstres Attaquent la Ville (FR)
 
Directors:
Gordon Douglas
Screenwriters:
Ted Sherdeman
Producers:
David Weisbart
Directors of Photography:
Sidney Hickox
Music / Composers:
Bronislau Kaper
Effects:
Ardell Lytle, Ralph Ayres
Actors:
James Whitmore (Sgt. Ben Peterson), James Arness (FBI Agent Robert Graham), Joan Weldon (Dr. Pat Medford), Edmund Gwenn (Dr. Harold Medford), Onslow Stevens (Brig. Gen. Robert O'Brien), Sean McClory (Maj. Kibbee), Sandy Descher (The Ellinson Girl), Chris Drake (Trooper Ed Blackburn), Don Shelton (Trooper Capt. Fred Edwards), Fess Parker (Alan Crotty), Mary Alan Hokanson (Mrs. Lodge), Olin Howland (Jensen), William Schallert (Ambulance Attendant), Ann Doran (Child Psychiatrist), Dub Taylor (Railroad Yard Watchman), Leonard Nimoy (Army Sergeant - Uncredited)

Quotes

  • If these monsters got started as a result of the first atomic bomb in 1945, what about all the others that have been exploded since then?
  • Yes. A fantastic mutation. Probably caused by lingering radiation from the first atomic bomb.

Trivia

  • More than a decade before finding fame with his pointed Vulcan ears, Leonard Nimoy has a small, uncredited part as an entirely human Army sergeant in the communications room.

Products

Handmade selection of related products.

Disclosure
This page contains affiliate links. As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases.
Image source: Amazon Partner Program

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Product name Price
Them! (BD) [Blu-ray]
Them! (BD) [Blu-ray]
View on Amazon
Nome del prodotto Prezzo
Piccola enciclopedia degli ultracorpi: I B-movies americani degli anni Cinquanta: Vol. 1
Piccola enciclopedia degli ultracorpi: I B-movies americani degli anni Cinquanta: Vol. 1
Vista su Amazon
Assalto Alla Terra (Restaurato In Hd)
Assalto Alla Terra (Restaurato In Hd)
Vista su Amazon
Assalto alla Terra
Assalto alla Terra
Vista su Amazon
Product name Price
THEM (1954) - Premium Collection + Art Cards..Blu Ray.
THEM (1954) - Premium Collection + Art Cards..Blu Ray.
View on Amazon
The Beast from 20,000 Fathoms + Them! [2x DVD] [1953 + 1954]
The Beast from 20,000 Fathoms + Them! [2x DVD] [1953 + 1954]
View on Amazon
Nombre del producto Precio
Produktname Preis
Formicula (Creature Feature Collection #9)
Formicula (Creature Feature Collection #9)
Bei Amazon ansehen
Formicula (Creature Feature Collection #9) [Blu-ray]
Formicula (Creature Feature Collection #9) [Blu-ray]
Bei Amazon ansehen
Nom du produit Prix
Product name Price
Them [Blu-ray] [Import]
Them [Blu-ray] [Import]
View on Amazon

Primary Sidebar

Director: 
Gordon Douglas
Year: 
1954
Original Title: 
Them! (en)
Runtime: 
94 min.
English Dub: 

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Genres

Horror, Sci-Fi

Tags

Arthropods , Giants , Killer Animals , Mutations , Radioactivity 

Connections

External
TMDB, IMDB

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