Paula Hammond - Features EditorNicknamed Mr B.I.G. by Famous Monsters of Filmland Mr B.I.G.founder Forrest J. Ackerman, the writer, director and producer Bert I. Gordon built his reputation on films featuring giant monsters, from King Dinosaur to The Food of the Gods via The Amazing Colossal Man and Earth vs the Spider. In 1977, he made his final giant monster movie: Empire of the Ants, inspired by H. G. Wells’ short story of the same name.
Following the illegal dumping of radioactive waste in the ocean, a barrel of toxic sludge washes up on a beach not too far from land being sold by unscrupulous developer Marilyn Fryser (Joan Collins), who brings a number of prospective buyers to view the beachfront location. All seems to be going well until Marilyn, and her clients find themselves under attack by giant irradiated ants, mutated by the chemicals introduced to their habitat and determined to destroy the human race.
Owing as much to the classic creature feature Them! as it does to H. G. Wells, Empire of the Ants is an ecological fable for the increasingly climate-conscious 1970s, presented in a monster movie package that could only have been the work of the inimitable Bert I. Gordon.
Eureka Entertainment’s latest release finally gives this classic piece of cult cheese its UK Blu-ray debut, as part of the Eureka Classics range. Joan Collins, giant ants, and much well-intentioned silliness, this is classic 1970s B-movie fodder done as only MR. B.I.G could do.
