Them!

[Fianna]

https://www.sfdebris.com/videos/films/them.php

Love seeing Chuck delve into a true, old-school classic sci-fi flick. Way better than you probably expect based on "50's sci-fi movie about giant, mutant, atomic ants".

[Madner Kami]

First time I heard of this movie, was through Command and Conquer - Red Alert: Counterstrike and the secret campaign in it. Well, outside of the famous black and white ant appearing over the scientist-lady. Pretty darn iconic.

[JL_Stinger]

This movie seems a bit simplistic, but also ahead of its time.

[clearspira]

Sigh. Say what you like about Boomers but they dressed so smartly compared to people today. Hats, suits, nice dresses, even their uniforms were smarter. If I could bring anything back from the past it would be this.

Speaking of how society has changed, have you noticed just how few films today have cops and the government as heroic leads? The only whiff of incompetence here is when the army nearly collapses the tunnel near the end but even that seems understandable that when facing down a huge man-eating ant that has killed children the men might get a bit overzealous. In modern films one or both will be corrupt or ineffectual and it'll be some group of civilians who save the day. And if the army gets involved? They'll be a bunch of trigger-happy yahoos who are more of a liability to their own country than to what they are fighting.

It is an interesting case study. The government and those in authority were to be trusted back then according to the media. They were there to help. And as Chuck noted, locking you up for the good of the country? Perfectly understandable thing for the good guys to do (and has uncomfortable shades of McCarthyism). Nowadays it is exactly the reverse in popular culture. The police are dangerous and the government corrupt. But what changed since then? Its not as if there were no extreme radicals back then, the civil unrest of the 1960s were just around the corner after all.

If you ask me its communication. When a white mob consisting of Klan, civilians and cops burned down Black Wall Street in the 1920s and murdered scores of black people just for being black, the media buried it and the government and courts were complicit in that. But nowadays, everything is recorded, everything is online. We see what our government does first-hand and within seconds of it happening. It has claimed our innocence and our naivete.

TL;DR I doubt that you could make this film today.

[Nealithi]

Speaking of how society has changed, have you noticed just how few films today have cops and the government as heroic leads? The only whiff of incompetence here is when the army nearly collapses the tunnel near the end but even that seems understandable that when facing down a huge man-eating ant that has killed children the men might get a bit overzealous. In modern films one or both will be corrupt or ineffectual and it'll be some group of civilians who save the day. And if the army gets involved? They'll be a bunch of trigger-happy yahoos who are more of a liability to their own country than to what they are fighting.

It is an interesting case study. The government and those in authority were to be trusted back then according to the media. They were there to help. And as Chuck noted, locking you up for the good of the country? Perfectly understandable thing for the good guys to do (and has uncomfortable shades of McCarthyism). Nowadays it is exactly the reverse in popular culture. The police are dangerous and the government corrupt. But what changed since then? Its not as if there were no extreme radicals back then, the civil unrest of the 1960s were just around the corner after all.

If you ask me its communication. When a white mob consisting of Klan, civilians and cops burned down Black Wall Street in the 1920s and murdered scores of black people just for being black, the media buried it and the government and courts were complicit in that. But nowadays, everything is recorded, everything is online. We see what our government does first-hand and within seconds of it happening. It has claimed our innocence and our naivete.

TL;DR I doubt that you could make this film today.

I think Chuck did an excellent job pointing out how everyone had certain competence. In the 80's the military would be 'kill it with fire', and the scientist would be 'we need to understand it'. And who was right would depend on who the established 'hero' was working with. So in a way it is refreshing to see the scene with the doctor saying now burn it all.
I even get why the two doctors chose not to put out their hypothesis early. Extraordinary claims need extraordinary evidence.

Could you make this film today? . . . If it was a remake, I think it is possible. Especially if they kept it in the 50's. Though they might put more emphasis on Pam being the female smart person. As a more original work. I hate to just agree. But they went to three different sanitoriums in this movie. Any sign of 'incorrect' thinking got you shipped there. And the government telling you to bury the people there till we tell you other wise? Yeah that is heavy handed by today's standards.

[JL_Stinger]

Say what you like about Boomers but they dressed so smartly compared to people today. Hats, suits, nice dresses, even their uniforms were smarter. If I could bring anything back from the past it would be this.

I despise a lot of modern fashion (pre-destroyed jeans, I'm glaring at you) but I've spend my adult life avoiding wearing suits or uniforms as much as possible.

Speaking of how society has changed, have you noticed just how few films today have cops and the government as heroic leads? The only whiff of incompetence here is when the army nearly collapses the tunnel near the end but even that seems understandable that when facing down a huge man-eating ant that has killed children the men might get a bit overzealous. In modern films one or both will be corrupt or ineffectual and it'll be some group of civilians who save the day. And if the army gets involved? They'll be a bunch of trigger-happy yahoos who are more of a liability to their own country than to what they are fighting.

It is an interesting case study. The government and those in authority were to be trusted back then according to the media. They were there to help. And as Chuck noted, locking you up for the good of the country? Perfectly understandable thing for the good guys to do (and has uncomfortable shades of McCarthyism). Nowadays it is exactly the reverse in popular culture. The police are dangerous and the government corrupt. But what changed since then? Its not as if there were no extreme radicals back then, the civil unrest of the 1960s were just around the corner after all.

Much of the 1950s turmoil was under the surface. Things like the Hayes code (in effect until 1968) resulted in a gilded presentation of society. Married couples not even sleeping in the same bed, despite it being something that everyone, even kids, were aware of.

It wasn't just the 1960s revolutions, but also everything related to the Vietnam War. Then Watergate and Reagan spending a decade telling everyone that government is the source of all their problems.

The result is we're too cynical and negative about authority. If government is sometimes corrupt or bureaucratically ineffective, its stated purpose at least remains benevolent. The military is narrow-minded but can be effective against anticipated opponents.

If this movie were to be made today and set today, some narcissistic entrepreneur would be trying to capture the ants because he thinks they will make him richer.

[stryke]

If this movie were to be made today and set today, some narcissistic entrepreneur would be trying to capture the ants because he thinks they will make him richer.

Far too true.

I was definitely feeling the 'Musk and his ilk'-parody fatigue watching Glass Onion as it just been done so very often recently in films, and I thought Musk was a detestable git thanks to his pedo comment long before it became much more popular to dunk on him.

At this point it's just getting way too predictable and tired, y'know?

[Fianna]

I also think there's an adage in Hollywood that says a movie needs a human antagonist, even if the main plot of the story is about something else. I'm reminded of the movie Twister, a disaster flick about tornadoes, which still felt the need to include a rival team of "sell out" tornado chasers who drive around in all black vans and act like douches, and then get killed by the final cyclone.

[Mabus]

There's something interesting when watching old movies and finding some nice gems. Pity they've been buried by cheap ripoffs which only happened because they had more marketing than the original films.

[clearspira]

There's something interesting when watching old movies and finding some nice gems. Pity they've been buried by cheap ripoffs which only happened because they had more marketing than the original films.

I saw the original ''Invasion of the Body Snatchers'' the other day and was thinking the same thing. Its amazingly good for what it is. Good suspense, good acting.