When the 1989 "one-hit-wonder" glam-metal band "Sonic Grave" embark on a trip to Coachella in hopes of a comeback, their peyote trip pit stop in Joshua Tree incites an "unworldly" viscous at... Read allWhen the 1989 "one-hit-wonder" glam-metal band "Sonic Grave" embark on a trip to Coachella in hopes of a comeback, their peyote trip pit stop in Joshua Tree incites an "unworldly" viscous attack, and they must "rock" themselves out of harms way.When the 1989 "one-hit-wonder" glam-metal band "Sonic Grave" embark on a trip to Coachella in hopes of a comeback, their peyote trip pit stop in Joshua Tree incites an "unworldly" viscous attack, and they must "rock" themselves out of harms way.
- Lisa
- (as a different name)
- Sound Mixer
- (as Stephanie Hodos)
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There's a good cast here, as the nearing has-been status metal band Sonic Grave and their manager (Tom Arnold) are traveling to Coachella---oops! make that the Nochella Festival (as they couldn't get booked into the big one). Stopping to buy some hallucinatory peyote from a local Native American with the hopes of creating some new songs, they're warned to not even slightly desecrate the land or living things in the area or there will be terrible consequences for them. Well, I don't have to tell you that soon they'll be battling and running from giant killer ants as the consequences.
All in all, this film, written and directed by Ron Carlson, offers some eroticism from young lithesome bodies, some gruesome horror scenes, and, as mentioned, some shock value laughs but I would say the 5.0 rating on this site is about right.
One of the film's main strengths is its atmosphere. The desolate landscapes and eerie quiet of the world the characters inhabit are effective in creating a sense of dread. The makeup and effects for the undead are also well done, adding some needed visual flair. The cast does their best with the material, and there are a few stand-out performances that manage to elevate some scenes.
However, the plot lacks cohesion, often drifting between disconnected set pieces without a strong narrative thread. The pacing drags at times, making it difficult to stay fully invested. The characters themselves feel underdeveloped, with motivations that remain unclear, making it hard to care deeply about their fates.
While Dead And isn't a total misfire, it feels like a missed opportunity. There are moments of genuine tension and creativity, but they're overshadowed by a disjointed story and lackluster character development. For fans of the genre, it may still be worth a watch, but it's unlikely to leave a lasting impression.
The one-hit wonder band Sonic Grave wants to do a tour because they had success in 1989 and they are in hope of a comeback. They are on their truck but after a tire breaks, trouble begins because nearby someone threw steroids on an ant colony making them huger and stronger. Art (Astin) is chasen by some of these ants and attack him chopping off all his limbs, and Samantha is devoured by the ants when she tries to step on one of their holes. So Danny (Arnold) and the other band members have no other choice that stop the killer ants on their way to Coachella, and will succedd not without some injuries and disasters.
Giant mutant ants that become blood-thirsty of human flesh... a great concept that could be loved at least by folks with dark sense of humour like me, right? Well, I was hoping it was at least good but the too many gory scenes and especially the loudness and abrasiveness of nearly all the characters really turned me off. If the performances were at least a bit more subtle and the special effects not that gory, I probably would have given a higher score.
Overall, a bad movie that I would recommend only to folks who have nothing important to do at home (or nothing better to watch) or for fans of the leads like me. Could have been great, but thanks to a bad direction, it's what it is.
Tom Arnold being Tom Arnold, but also everyone else involved giving it their best. It is not always easy to find the right mixture when it comes to horror and comedy. I would argue the movie hits the spot. So if you don't mind the subgenre, you could do a lot worse than this. And I know I may be a bit too forgiving when it comes to my rating - but it only happens ... well a quite few times actually. Still this is fun and entertaining and ends on quite the right note (no pun intended).
Did you know
- TriviaThe band in the movie, Sonic Grave, features songs from the real-life band Kix.
- GoofsAC/DC did in fact have a power ballad. 'Ride On' from 1975's Dirty Deeds Done Dirt Cheap.
- Quotes
Danny: You goddamn right it's serious shit. Pager here is gonna rip a solo at that festival that'll make your panties roll down your legs,walk across the floor, and fold in the corner. Danny Bloom. Nice to meet you ladies. Hi. Hey ... I'm not creepy. Yeah. I proved it in court. And besides, who needs to be within 600 feet of a grade school. Am I right?
- ConnectionsReferences Le Seigneur des anneaux : La Communauté de l'anneau (2001)
- SoundtracksPower of Rock
Words and Music by J. Alaimo, R. Benigno, S. Herb, M. Corso & R. Pfahl
Performed by Aerrage
Courtesy of Westwood Music Group
- How long is Dead Ant?Powered by Alexa
Details
- Runtime1 hour 27 minutes
- Color
- Aspect ratio
- 2.39:1