Empire of the Ants Synopsis & Review: Plot Summary

🎯 Quick Overview

😅 Plot Summary – Badly Explained

Joan Collins tries to sell swampland, but giant ants who like sugar interrupt her sales pitch…with violence!

🍿 Empire of the Ants: Detailed Plot Synopsis

A Shady Real Estate Deal

Marilyn Fryser, a con artist real estate agent, lures potential buyers to Dreamland Shores, a swampy area in the Florida Everglades. She promises them beachfront properties, concealing the fact that the land is worthless and undeveloped. The group boards a yacht, unaware of the horrors that await them on the remote island. The opening sets up Marilyn as unscrupulous and the buyers as naive, ready to be swindled.

Giant Ants Emerge

Unbeknownst to Marilyn and her clients, the island has been contaminated by radioactive waste dumped into the ocean. The waste has caused the local ant population to mutate into gigantic, aggressive creatures. As the group tours the island, they begin to encounter signs of the ants’ presence, including missing workers and strange buzzing noises. The growing tension foreshadows the impending danger and the characters’ vulnerability.

Attacks and Escape

The giant ants begin attacking the group, picking them off one by one. The survivors attempt to escape, facing numerous challenges, including the destruction of their boat. The old couple and Christine get killed. They must navigate the treacherous swamp, battling the ants at every turn. The struggle for survival tests their strength and resolve, highlighting the film’s horror elements.

The Town Under Control

The remaining survivors stumble upon a small town near a sugar refinery, seeking refuge. However, they soon discover that the townspeople are under the control of the ants, who use pheromones to manipulate them. The townsfolk are forced to harvest sugar for the ants, adding a disturbing layer of social commentary to the film. This section introduces the bizarre twist of mind control and expands the scope of the ants’ threat.

⚠️ Spoilers and Ending Explained

🎬 Cast & Characters

• Marilyn Fryser (Joan Collins): A conniving real estate agent who leads unsuspecting buyers into a territory controlled by giant ants.
• Dan Stokely (Robert Lansing): The level-headed boat captain who tries to protect the group from the giant ants.
• Joe Morrison (John David Carson): A resourceful young man who emerges as a hero in the fight against the ants and their mind-controlled servants.
• Coreen Bradford (Pamela Susan Shoop): A young woman and one of the few survivors, who initially serves as a scream queen but ultimately shows resilience.
• Sheriff Art Kincade (Albert Salmi): The local sheriff who is under the control of the giant ants and enforces their will.
• Anson Parker (Norman Franklin): The mayor of the town who is secretly colluding with the giant ants.

💬 Memorable Quotes

• Coreen Bradford: “Oh my God! They’re herding us like cattle!” – Coreen says this upon realizing that the giant ants are intentionally directing their movements through the swamp.
• Marilyn Fryser: “I’ll remind you that I am still in charge here!” – Marilyn asserts her authority, even amidst the chaos of being hunted by giant ants.
• Sheriff Art Kincade: “They are superior.” – The Sheriff makes this chilling statement regarding the ants, revealing that humans must serve the ants needs.

💰Box Office

• Budget: $150,000
• Domestic Gross: N/A
• Worldwide Gross: N/A

💥 Empire of the Ants Reviews

Personal Review

Okay, I admit it, I have a soft spot for this movie. The ants look so fake, it’s hilarious! Joan Collins is wonderfully awful, and the whole thing is just a blast of cheesy fun. The ending, with the mind-controlled town, is so ridiculous it’s brilliant. Don’t go in expecting high art, but if you want a good laugh, ‘Empire of the Ants’ is perfect.

• Who would enjoy:
  • “Fans of B-movies and creature features”
  • “Viewers who appreciate campy and unintentionally funny films”
  • “Those interested in 1970s horror and sci-fi”
  • “Fans of Joan Collins who want to see her in a less serious role”
• Content warnings ⚠:
  • “Mild gore and violence”
  • “Creature attacks”
  • “Brief language”
  • “Suggestive Content”

Professional Reviews

• Gazettely: “Empire of the Ants delivers campy thrills with its hilariously oversized ants and Joan Collins’ over-the-top performance. While the special effects are dated, the film provides plenty of laughs and B-movie charm. It’s a fun, albeit silly, creature feature for fans of the genre.
• Soap Hub: “While not directly related, the camp and melodrama present in Empire of the Ants foreshadow the soapy excess that Joan Collins would later embody in The Colbys. Her performance here, though in a schlocky monster movie, hints at the iconic role she would soon embrace.

Audience Reactions

Viewers enjoyed the hilariously bad special effects and the unintentionally funny scenes.: Many found the movie entertaining for its campy value and over-the-top acting.

Fans loved Joan Collins’ performance, even if it was in a terrible movie.: Collins brought a level of star power that elevated the film’s watchability.

Overall Consensus: While widely considered a terrible movie due to its low budget, poor special effects, and questionable acting, ‘Empire of the Ants’ has gained a cult following for its campy entertainment value.

Awards

🛠️ Behind the Scenes

• “According to Pamela Susan Shoop, the film’s sound man had a fight with director Bert I. Gordon towards the end of the shoot and threw all of its audio tapes into the swamp, requiring the entire film to be looped.”
• “The film makes heavy use of stock footage of ants, often intercut with the actors to create the illusion of giant insects.”

🖥️ How to Watch Empire of the Ants?

Empire of the Ants is available for purchase on physical media like DVD and Blu-ray. Check retailers like Amazon and other online stores for availability. Streaming options are more limited; you might find it available for rent or purchase on platforms such as Amazon Prime Video, Apple TV, or Google Play Movies. Check these platforms for current availability.

🎥 Similar Movies

If you enjoyed Empire of the Ants, you might like these similar films:

• Them! (1954): A classic ‘giant insect’ movie featuring ants mutated to enormous size and terrorizing the populace. A direct precursor and influence on ‘Empire of the Ants’.
• Food of the Gods (1976): Another Bert I. Gordon film about giant creatures (in this case, giant animals) terrorizing people, sharing a similar low-budget and ‘nature runs amok’ theme.
• Phase IV (1974): A more psychological and visually striking film about ants developing a hive mind and posing a threat to humanity.
• Kingdom of the Spiders (1977): Another nature-gone-wild film from the same era featuring a different kind of arachnid threat and similar B-movie sensibilities.

🛒 Empire of the Ants Related Products

• THEM! [Blu-ray]: Experience the original giant ant classic, a benchmark in the sci-fi horror genre, on stunning Blu-ray! See where Empire of the Ants got ‘inspired’.
• Giant Ant Farm Habitat by Evviva Sciences – Watch Your Own Colony Dig Tunnels & Build Hills: This ant farm creates a clear, escape-proof view for easy ant observation. Watch your own ants dig complex networks through dirt.
• Horror Movie Poster Set – 12 Different 11×17 Prints: A collection of iconic horror movie posters, perfect for decorating your home theater. Does not include Empire of the Ants.
• Bug Spray: Strong and effective for repelling ants and other insects.

🎧 Soundtrack

Empire of the Ants features a captivating soundtrack that enhances the movie’s atmosphere and emotional impact. Here are some notable tracks:

• “Main Title” – performed by Lalo Schifrin
• “Ant Attack” – performed by Lalo Schifrin

You can find the complete soundtrack on Amazon Music and Apple Music.

🤨 FAQ

🔥 Bonus Content

Bad Movie Review: The Projected Man

Ever wonder what makes a movie so bad it’s good? This review dives into ‘The Projected Man,’ a sci-fi horror flick that’s definitely got some…unique qualities. Trust me, it’s a wild ride!

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