Them!

The film Them! is a 1954 science fiction horror classic, directed by Gordon Douglas and written by Ted Sherdeman, based on an original story by Ted Sherdeman. The movie is a groundbreaking representation of the dangers of nuclear testing, as depicted in several other films and literature of the time, including the influential novella and film "The Day After Tomorrow" (1953). The story focuses on an apocalyptic scenario of mutant ants emerging from the irradiated desert, threatening the lives of people across the United States. The narrative commences on a sweltering summer evening in the deserts of California. A group of children stumble upon a massive ant in the dunes, and in the subsequent chaos, one of the children, Susan Clark, is injured. Her mother rushes her to a nearby hospital, but before they arrive, Susan has been infected by the ant's venom, and her health is deteriorating. This sets off an investigation into the source of the venom, which leads to the involvement of a father-daughter entomology team, Robert and Ellen Graham. Robert Graham, played by James Whitmore, and Ellen, played by Joan Weldon, are a renowned entomology duo who specialize in the study of ants. Their expertise is sought out by the State Police, who are baffled by the mysterious circumstances surrounding the ant and Susan's illness. Initially unwilling to become involved, the Grahams are convinced by the gravity of the situation and agree to help. Their investigation leads them to an area near the nuclear testing site, where they stumble upon an enormous ant that has been dislodged from its underground colony. This behemoth ant's presence serves as a harbinger of a larger threat: an underground network of giant, mutated ants has begun to emerge from the irradiated desert, wreaking havoc on the surrounding environment. The ants' incredible strength, rapid reproduction, and resistance to conventional poisons soon make them a formidable foe. As the Grahams and the state police officer, Ben Peterson, played by James Craig, delve deeper into the mystery, they are joined by FBI Agent James P. Corrigan, played by Edmund Gwenn. Corrigan's agency becomes aware of the situation and sends him to investigate. Together, the group pieces together the origin of the mutated ants and the impending threat they pose. Their evidence suggests that the ants have been born from the desert radiation, which has altered their biology, making them giant and aggressive. The Grahams theorize that these ants may be an example of a phenomenon called "ontogenesis," where organisms undergo a process of abnormal development due to external factors, in this case, radiation. This knowledge helps them to devise a strategy to eradicate the ants. However, the situation rapidly escalates as the ants begin to multiply at an alarming rate, overwhelming the local authorities. It becomes apparent that the United States military needs to be brought in to deal with the situation, leading to a larger military operation to combat the ants. The climax of the film unfolds in a dramatic confrontation as the ant colony is targeted by the military in a final, desperate attempt to destroy the threat. The operation, involving troops, artillery, and aircraft, is a massive failure, and the ants seem to be invincible. In a desperate bid to stop the ants, Robert Graham decides to infiltrate the ant colony using a special gas that can kill the ants quickly. His act of self-sacrifice results in the successful elimination of the colony, but not before the ants have claimed numerous lives. The film's conclusion finds the characters reflecting on the devastation that has been brought upon them and the vast deserts of California. As the nation grapples with the consequences of nuclear testing, Them! serves as a warning about the dangers of unchecked scientific experimentation and the unpredictability of radiation's impact on the natural world. The movie's impact, coupled with its influential depiction of a post-apocalyptic scenario, solidified its place as a pioneering work in the science fiction horror genre.