Among B-movie aficionados, Them! is legendary. It was one of the very first films to feature monsters that were mutated by nuclear radiation, even beating out Godzilla by a matter of months. In addition, it helped kick off the "big bug" genre of monster movies. This is amplified by a title so simple, so catchy, and so memorable that it becomes immediately endearing to all who hear about it. Them! is the story of mutated giant ants who terrorize the Western United States. When they are discovered by scientists and the military, they had already given birth to two queens who had flown off to start new nests. The race is on to find them and destroy them before they spread and possibly wipe out the human race. The film wisely doesn't show the insects until about a third of the way into the film, instead letting the audience see their carnage and hear their insidious chirping. The ant special effects are cheesy, but believable enough that they are threatening. However, the film does suffer that one great bane of monster flicks, pulp films, and B-movies: poor pacing. At certain points the film grinds to an unforgivable halt as the science is patiently explained to the audience and as the military plans on how they are going to destroy the invaders. Still, pacing problems aside, Them! is still an entertaining flick. Even if the film is one day forgotten, the impact of its giant ants will be felt forever in the film industry.
6/10
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