From Nuclear Paranoia to Giant Ants: Revisiting the Classic Sci-Fi Film Them
Welcome to today’s episode of Exploring Humanity Through Sci-Fi, where I dive deep into the world of science fiction to understand ourselves a little better. In this special installment, I take us on a nostalgic journey back to the atomic age with a spotlight on the classic 1954 film, Them. Against the backdrop of 1950s nuclear paranoia, Them pits humanity against giant, mutated ants in a chilling cautionary tale about the unintended consequences of nuclear testing. We’ll explore the film’s plot, its standout cast—featuring names like James Whitmore, James Arness, and even a young Leonard Nimoy—and the pioneering production techniques that brought these monstrous creatures to life before the age of CGI. We’ll also uncover fascinating behind-the-scenes details, discuss the film’s critical reception and lasting legacy, and trace its influence on everything from Japanese kaiju flicks to modern video games and pop culture.
John McCarten of New Yorker wrote this, If you’re willing to let your imagination off its leash, you may have a fairly good time at them. The contemporary Monthly Film Bureau stated that despite the science fiction genre being new, it has developed several subdivisions including the Otherworldly Primeval Monstrous, the Neomonsterous, the planetary visitant, etc.And that them is a well built example of the Neo Monstrous. Less absurdly sensational than most, it called the films and monsters reasonably horrible. They do not entirely avoid the impression of a mock up that is almost inevitable when over life sized creatures have to be constructed and moved. Instead, they are considerably more conceivable than those prehistoric remnants that have recently been emerging from bog and Iceberg. Like most science fiction, the film is on the whole serviceably rather than exciting cast and described the direction as smoothly machined and the film was decent writing, though it claimed that more shortcuts may have been taken at the start of the film as it was too slow.
Since the original release Them has been generally regarded as one of the best science fiction films of the 1950s. Bill Warren described it as a tight, fast paced incredible the picture is suspenseful. The entry on the film in Phil Hardy’s the Aurum Film Encyclopedia science fiction states directed by Gordon Douglas in semi documentary fashion, Them is one of the best science fiction films of the 50s.
Does it hold up today? The 60s had more cautionary tales like Planet of the Apes, Fail Safe and the Bedford Incident. This theme even followed us into the 80s even until today. Films like the Book of Eli, the Quiet Earth, the Road, War Games, the the Day after, and A Boy and His Dog.
The fear will stay with us as long as the weapons and their potential to change humanity forever still exists. How we deal with it in the future might be the key to our survival. For now, enjoy the giant ants of them.
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