Joan Collins Empire. Burt Gordon, known in the film world as Mr. Big, was at one time the king of horror films category B. His nickname was received due to his love of filming projects with different monsters enlarged with the help of film projection. At the same time, the hallmark of his films are poorly and very clumsy special effects, as if we are watching an old film of the 30s - 50s. If in his early ' Food of the Gods' we saw rats drown in a three-liter jar, then this film is the next victim of the increase were ants climbing the same can.
The film is based on a fantastic story by H.G. Wells, as well as ' Food of the Gods'. Although in both cases, the authors are very far away from the originals.
So, a cunning real estate agent wants to sell land on the ocean in a place forgotten by God. She and her assistants put the territory in order, pretend that it is inhabited, create the appearance of communications. All this is done counting on rich and inattentive buyers who are invited to a free tour to conclude a deal. The company is going to be very diverse. Bitch, her assistant, the captain of the ship, a loser, an unfaithful husband and his stupid wife, a rich boy, a beautiful girl, a couple of impudent people and an elderly couple of scammers who love free food. But the tricky deal is hampered by ants grown due to toxic waste to a giant size. Not all tourists will return home unharmed.
An interesting feature of the film is that it does not have the main protagonist. There is also no final victim. This is the first time I’ve seen such horror movies, it was very interesting and unexpected. Acting work is very good, all the characters are different and will be remembered for a long time. This is a plus.
From the acting ensemble stands out the magnificent Joan Collins. And although in the plot she is a supporting character, but it is she who flaunts on the poster, goes first in the credits and is the main star of the film. And almost all the most intense scenes went to her heroine. As in the subsequent famous 'Dynasty' she brilliantly plays a glamorous bitch in this film. What is very interesting is the metamorphosis with its transformation from a calculating con artist to an ordinary frightened, defenseless woman in unusual circumstances. The actress plays everything brilliantly, nomination for the award 'Saturn' for this film she deserved. Although about 'Ant Empire' Joan doesn’t like to remember, saying it was the most intense filming of her life. She, along with other actors without stuntmen, flipped into the water on a boat into the river with crocodiles, ran through the cold jungle, portrayed the struggle with skin-scratching dummy ants. For the former movie star, the role in such a suspicious B film was a step backwards, but the actress tempered her ego and meekly fulfilled all the tasks of the director. As a reward for her torment on the set, she received a new surge of interest in her and interesting offers in the future, such as her starring role as Alexis in 'Dynasty'.
The film is interesting because it is impossible to predict events. The first half takes place in the jungle, the heroes escape from bloodthirsty insects and it would seem there is no way out. But in despair, they suddenly find themselves in the city. But they do not know where they will be safer and how they will develop. Cinema turns from banal horror to dystopia and it is very interesting to watch.
The film is not lost in time, it is remembered and loved. Perhaps thanks to the leading actress who later became famous, perhaps due to the fact that there are very few horror stories about ants. Even though the squalid special effects of the film are interesting, we learn a lot about insect life. Including something unexpected.
I also liked the costumes of the heroes. Everything was selected for the place, interesting color range of clothes. Especially remember the green suit of one of the ladies, who looked nice against the background of nature.
From viewing only positive emotions.
9 out of 10
I'm taking my special effects score.