One of the first movies to leverage the idea of radiation- it came out the same year the Godzilla debuted in Japan, and two years before Godzilla came to the US theaters.
The effects are rather impressive when you think about them. Full sized bug puppets, which is more effort than many films which just super imposed footage of real spiders or bugs against actors. The giant puppet ants were able to grab and attack actors, which brings to mind the bug animatronics of Starship Troopers.
The plot and execution is pretty good, and the early mystery is actually quite creepy as the investigators uncover ransacked isolated buildings and vehicles with no sensical explanation for the destruction.
See 1974’s Phase IV for another take on ants as the story’s antagonist. It’s notable for being graphic designer Saul Bass’s only directing credit, as well as that general 1970s slow-paced creepiness that is as much atmosphere as story.
And it just embodies the can-do attitude of America in the 50s! Big hole full of things we can barely shoot thru? Get gas and flamethrowers, and we’re going in! Flying ants? Call in P-80s! The spiritual parent to Aliens. I honestly feel like Aliens is just a remake of Them! With a heaping helping of 80s nihilism and ennui.
I would say, It-Terror from Beyond Space is even more of a remake of Aliens.
I need to watch that!
