Phase IV

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Stefan C Unlike more modern apocalyptic films this really has a well done and surprising story - I still remember it since I saw it first back in the seventies. Rated 5/5 Stars •  Rated 5 out of 5 stars 08/11/24 Full Review Steve D Unintentional comedy that is extremely self serious. Rated 0.5/5 Stars •  Rated 0.5 out of 5 stars 03/23/23 Full Review Taylor L "Do you want ants? Because THAT'S how you get ants." Phase IV is a fun film because it takes a bit of an absurd premise - a hyperintelligent, aggressive ant colony with powers granted by a cosmic flash - and gives it the philosophical sci-fi/horror treatment of a space opera like 2001: A Space Odyssey or Solaris, plus a Tremors-esque fight against a mystery monster. The dynamic progresses from academic curiosity to survival horror to third-eye social engineering as the surviving protagonists ultimately accept their unknown future at the hands of novel and mysterious power. The power of ants. The only feature film directed by Saul Bass, more commonly known for his graphic design and storyboard work than anything else, it shouldn't come as much of a surprise that the conflict in this film features a lot of quick cuts to simulate the action of coordinated ants (since they're not so easy to herd) in a similar style to the storyboards he created for the iconic shower scene in Psycho. The visual composition is intense and thematically relevant, making it all the funnier when you remember that yes, this is still a film where the great cosmic villains are ants. Still not sure if this is visually great nonsense or a brilliant satire of heady sci-fi. (3/5) Rated 3/5 Stars •  Rated 3 out of 5 stars 10/15/22 Full Review Audience Member <i>In a single monotone voice, of a single homogenous hive mindset:</i> I, for one, welcome our new insect overlords—even if they are somewhat boring, the characters dry, and the story mechanical, at least until that psychedelic ending, which must be what happens when you get bitten by a bullet ant. Rated 3/5 Stars •  Rated 3 out of 5 stars 01/30/23 Full Review Audience Member Live action, real ants! Love the premise Rated 3.5/5 Stars •  Rated 3.5 out of 5 stars 01/21/23 Full Review Audience Member A convoluted, tedious mess. Not only is it hokey, it's almost laughable. It's soo boringly paced, it's hard to follow, and there isn't a suspenseful moment in sight. But there is some truly exceptional insect photography in this... Rated 1/5 Stars •  Rated 1 out of 5 stars 01/21/19 Full Review Read all reviews

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