Phase IV (1974)

The movie opens up with a voiceover explaining about a cosmic event that ends up with unexpected consequences.  The action, if you can call it that, then moves to a remote desert location where a couple of scientists are studying some strange ant activity.  In an attempt to get a reaction out of the ants they destroy a couple of towers the insects built.  This results in the ants killing a local family, except of the daughter who serves as the love interest, and trapping the scientists in their mobile lab.  Then a game of intelligences starts as the ant colony matches wits with the humans occupying the lab.  In the end it seems the ants wanted to make a couple of the humans part of their colony for some reason which we will never know because the movie ends abruptly. 

This is an interesting but terribly slow movie that works more as a plodding cerebral science fiction story than it does a film.  The plot is very interesting and a unique take on an alien “invasion” if that is even what it is.  See the filmmakers don’t seem to think they need to actually let the audience in on what is actually happening.  I kept waiting for the big reveal or wrap up, which never came.  So you end up spending an hour and a half getting to know the characters and never find out what the hell happened to them.  Be warned if this sort of storytelling annoys you then you will hate Phase IV.  Personally I will admit that in spite of appreciating how cool and different this story is I was also very unsatisfied with the lack of explanation and especially in how it ended.  This movie with it’s lack of action and unconventional approach to storytelling relies heavily on a cast that can carry the movie.  Luckily the filmmakers did an excellent job with their casting choices. Michael Murphy (Shocker) and Nigel Davenport are both great actors that make the otherwise dry material work. 

Phase IV does have one incredibly thing going for it and that is the camera work.  First of all the way that the desert environment is shot with so much color and the way the natural light is captured is awesome.  Really this is without a doubt one of the most beautiful movies I’ve seen in a long time.  But if that weren’t enough the camera work showing the ants close up is wonderfully done and creepy as hell.  I’ll admit I don’t like bugs and this movie had shivers going up and down my spine.  Add in the scenes of the ants “wrangling” the bodies of fallen comrades or the suicide mission of bringing poison back for study with one picking it up after the previous dropped dead and you have a unique visual way of telling a story.  Really this is unlike any other movie that I’ve ever seen. 

In spite of a few stunning technical achievements (camera work, ant wrangling) and a couple of decent performances this movie still suffers from being way too slow.  Plus I still can’t get over the unsatisfying ending.  I appreciate the good parts of the movie, but in the end it fails to entertain, which is how I judge the films that I review. 

This is another of the great titles available from Legend films.  For more information check them out at http://www.legendfilms.net/ for more information about this and their other great titles. 

1 ½ out of 4

reviewed by John Shatzer

© Copyright by John Shatzer