Empire of the Ants poster

1977·89 min·Released

Empire of the Ants

“For they shall inherit the earth... sooner than you think!”

Horror
Science Fiction

A Florida real estate developer and her captain lure investors to a property in the Everglades called Dreamland Shores, under false pretenses that the swampland will soon be developed. After the group arrives on a small island, they find it has been overrun by giant mutated ants, brought on by the dumping of toxic waste in the area.

4.9(126 votes)

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Videos

Eureka Classics Trailer

Cast & Crew

Joan Collins

Joan Collins

Marilyn Fryser

Robert Lansing

Robert Lansing

Dan Stokely

John David Carson

John David Carson

Joe Morrison

Albert Salmi

Albert Salmi

Sheriff Art Kincade

Jacqueline Scott

Jacqueline Scott

Margaret Ellis

Pamela Susan Shoop

Pamela Susan Shoop

Coreen Bradford

Robert Pine

Robert Pine

Larry Graham

Edward Power

Edward Power

Charlie Pearson

Brooke Palance

Brooke Palance

Christine Graham

Tom Fadden

Tom Fadden

Sam Russell

Irene Tedrow

Irene Tedrow

Velma Thompson

Harry Holcombe

Harry Holcombe

Harry Thompson

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Gimly

Written on 1/25/2018

The audio in _Empire of the Ants_ is infuriating to the point of being nigh unwatchable. But on mute? By jingo you might just be onto something there. _Final rating:★★ - Had some things that appeal to me, but a poor finished product._

Wuchak

Written on 5/9/2022

_**Despondent strangers are thrust into a life-or-death fight near the Everglades**_ A vixen selling questionable swamp land by the ocean in southeastern Florida (Joan Collins) leads a tour of potential buyers suddenly assaulted by colossal ants, evidently altered due to (what else?) radioactive waste. "Empire of the Ants” (1977) may have been inspired by HG Wells’ short story, but it wasn’t based on it at all. It’s basically “Them!” (1954) set in the Everglades in living color two decades later and therefore more akin to “Frogs” (1972). The milieu of cynical people struggling to survive in the Florida bog fighting sci-fi jungle creatures reminded me of Steve Gerber’s Man-Thing comics from 1973-1975. To give an idea of what to expect, it was made by the director of “The Food of the Gods” (1976), “Earth vs the Spider” (1958) and “Village of the Giants” (1965), although it lacks the goofiness of the latter. Pamela Susan Shoop is a highlight on the female front, along with Brooke Palance (Jack’s daughter). Meanwhile stalwart Robert Lansing’s acting range consists of grim and slightly less grim. John David Carson and Robert Pine are also on hand (Robert is, incidentally, Chris Pine’s father). The seriousness is appreciated, but I found the first hour relatively dull, maybe because the melancholy characters are lifeless (initially, at least). Thankfully, everything perks up in the last act for some unexpected happenings. I’m not going to give anything away. Shooting in remote swampland naturally proved challenging. Proper restrooms were half an hour away by speedboat, which meant an hour delay if the women simply had to go to the bathroom. Joan complained about having to do the boat capsize scene in alligator-infested waters due to a delay in the arrival of their stunt doubles (who would lose the work). But she agreed to do it because the director was starting to describe her as “difficult” and she didn’t want to lose future work being pigeonholed as a prima donna. Despite being a bit of a mess, Pamela stressed that it was a fun shoot. The film runs 1 hour, 29 minutes, and was shot in Belle Glade, Florida, just south of Lake Okeechobee, with the coastal scenes done at Jensen Beach, an hour’s drive northeast, which is just south of Fort Pierce. So we’re talking about the general region north of the Fort Lauderdale/Miami area. GRADE: B-/C+

Media

Eureka Classics Limited Edition Blu-ray Unboxing Video

Eureka Classics Limited Edition Blu-ray Unboxing Video

Giant ants attack the escape boat

Giant ants attack the escape boat

"They're Herding Us Like Cattle"

"They're Herding Us Like Cattle"

Eureka Classics Trailer

Eureka Classics Trailer

David del Valle on EMPIRE OF THE ANTS

David del Valle on EMPIRE OF THE ANTS

Official Trailer

Official Trailer