Marabunta roja: hormigas asesinas

Ants otherwise known as It Happened at Lakewood manor tells the story of building work beside a large regal hotel that stirs up an army of killer ants.

Starring Dicks Van Dykes son Barry and to a lesser extent film legend Brian Dennehy this late 70's effort isn't actually that bad considering what it is.

The trouble with movies of this ilk is the lack of threat, once you're aware of the ants in question then why are they still such a concern? They're freakin ants!

The pace is competent and it looks a lot better than you'd imagine but the pointless side plots and overly inflated threat do damage it's credibility somewhat.

All building up to a really rather unintentionally hilarious finale this is daft but not entirely without merit.

The Good:

Looks better than you'd imagine

The Bad:

Could have been constructed better

Irritating score

Hilariously bad finale

Things I Learnt From This Movie:

Ants even when swarming are invisible and incorporeal until they start biting you

After committing a crime ants are known for fleeing the scene

If the area is being swarmed with killer antsit's best to leave your windows open

Ants is a TV film about a group of staffs and guest suddenly attacked breed of powerful 'pesticide' ants. As they slowly are encircled by them, they have no choice but to find solace higher and higher into the hotel until help arrives.

Insane AND such a stupid idea. Non-sensical and has the most mystifying origin stories of all Laced Animal Horror films. The idea of killer ANTS is such a choice to begin with. Bug Spray anyone? But I gave it Three stars anyway since its a film that knows the lack of sense it holds. Everything about is just nonsensical high camp fun. The right amount of overacting and right amount of competence.

Overall, silly to high heavens BUT watchable.

Construction site unearths an army of toxic ants that engulf the neighbouring hotel. Construction Manager Foxworth and foreman Casey lead the charge to convince the owners of the impending danger, and then save the guests from imminent death.

Almost sounds exciting, and while it doesn't quite live up to its premise, a surprisingly good cast and competently handled action sequences contribute to a watchable entry in the "animal attack" film genre.

Foxworth plays the hero with macho determination, coming to the rescue of his girlfriend (Day-George) and soon-to-be mother-in-law (Loy) who are trapped in the besieged hotel, along with an assortment of other residents and ring-ins. Suzanne Somers gets star billing despite only being in a minor supporting role, while future star Brian Dennehy chimes in late in the piece as the fire brigade captain who must engineer an escape plan for the trapped victims.

Nothing fancy, no expensive special effects, Emmy-award winning performances or memorable dialogue, just the tried and tested disaster film formula, with a new element for excitement. The only real liability, is a somewhat bizarre (and equally absurd) climax ending that might leave the audience a little disappointed.

Disbelief aside, "Ants" is a reasonable way to spend an hour-and-a-half, and may leave you hesitant about dismissing the innocuous looking insects, next time they infest your kitchen sink.

This "television event" came out when bug movies were the vogue (yeah, that lasted about 15 minutes). I saw this when I was 8 years old, and, yes, back then it was creepy. A resort is overrun by evil ants that really don't like us humans too well. They proceed to blanket the resort and kill off many guests. A nude sleeping Suzanne Somers even gets it! The ants looked more like rice painted black, ultra campy. If you like old '70's disaster and/or bug films, it won't top your list...

The charm of an old-fashioned inn is momentarily disrupted by a nearby demolition crew gutting the property next door. Mike (Foxworth), the foreman of the crew has trouble keeping his men from going on impromptu breaks and can't account for several of them.

Sleazy gambling czar Tony Fleming (Gordon) is also there trying to purchase the inn so he can turned it into a resort/casino. He, his associate Gloria (Somers) and the various other guests and staff are, like the demolition crew under the grave threat of killer ants with poisonous bites. Not only do the ants kill but they have the sense to flee the scene without leaving any trace that they were there.

In a half-hour plus of screen time the characters finally clue in that something is wrong. Of course it takes them considerably longer before they agree what it actually is and how they can escape.

The acting is not spectacularly bad but only up until they have to interact with swarms of ants and pretend they are afraid they are going to die. Anyone who lives on the side of a hill can tend to get the ant swarm horror in their basements during the summer.

Producers rounded up a huge cast of ants to appear as extras in this film (If I had been their agent I'm sure I could have at least gotten them scale) and the result is what looks like millions of the little buggers. Sometimes realism is cheaper than special effects or staging tricks.

It makes for fairly entertaining high camp and great 1970s B-movie fun. Improbable and illogical but no more so than any Hollywood movie. It is still enjoyable horror/suspense kitsch with a highly predictable ending even for a TV movie.