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Year: 1977
Runtime: 89 min
Language: English
Director: Bert I. Gordon
In this thrilling adventure, con artist Marilyn Fryser (Joan Collins) orchestrates a lucrative scheme with a ruthless ship captain (Robert Lansing). But when her unsuspecting investors disembark on a mysterious island, they're met with an apocalyptic horror: toxic waste has spawned gargantuan ants hell-bent on decimating humanity.
Warning: spoilers below!
Haven’t seen Empire of the Ants yet? This summary contains major spoilers. Bookmark the page, watch the movie, and come back for the full breakdown. If you're ready, scroll on and relive the story!
As the film begins, it offers a captivating exploration of the complex social structures of ants, emphasizing their dependence on pheromones for communication. This intricate system acts as an irresistible force, prompting specific reactions from the ants without any room for personal choices. In contrast, humans enjoy a certain freedom from such rigid biological constraints. However, that brief respite is abruptly interrupted by the deliberate disposal of radioactive waste into the ocean, triggering a series of events with dramatic repercussions.
With the opening credits fading, we are introduced to the enigmatic Marilyn Fryser, portrayed by Joan Collins, a savvy land developer with a knack for transforming worthless ventures into goldmines. Her latest scheme involves a tour of supposedly “prime beachfront property” on a nearby island, which, despite its true lack of value, serves as bait to lure potential investors. The tour takes an unexpected twist when the group unwittingly discovers the lair of massive, ferocious ants, forcing them into a fight for their lives.
As fear grips the travelers, they flee through the untamed wilderness, with their ranks dwindling. In a twist of fate, they eventually reach a charming island town that has now become a bustling center focused around a local sugar factory. The ants, now under the influence of their strategic queen, indulge in the sweet substance, exerting a hypnotic sway over the local inhabitants. In a daring move, a courageous group of survivors manages to escape the ants’ control and ignites a blaze at the sugar factory, obliterating the hive and allowing them to make a narrow escape aboard a speedboat, leaving the island and its ominous secrets behind.
Last Updated: November 17, 2024 at 20:26
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