Them!

After a string of unexplainable disturbances in the southwestern United States, scientists realize giant mutant ants have emerged in the wake of nuclear testing. A father-daughter entomologist team teams up with the local police chief who first encounters the threat, an FBI agent, and ultimately the U.S. Army to trace the nests and halt the invasion. They trace the colonies, confront swarms that strike farms and towns, and race to identify the source before the infestation expands across the region. The narrative follows tense collaboration between civilians and officials as they plan containment and apportioning resources while the danger grows. As the swarms grow, the team confronts logistics, weather dangers, and the ethical questions of deploying the Army against wildlife.

Directed by Gordon Douglas, Them! adapts ideas from Ted Sherdeman with contributions by Russell S. Hughes and George Worthing Yates. Warner Bros released the 1954 science fiction horror that helped define mid century monster cinema and sparked a wave of budget minded thrillers.

The film received an Academy Award nomination for Best Visual Effects, recognizing the groundbreaking stop motion and scale of its giant ants. The nomination highlighted the technical ambition that set a new standard for practical effects in genre cinema and helped launch a wave of creature features.

Within a decade of its release, Them! became a touchstone for 1950s science fiction horror. The image of colossal ants stalking arid highways entered popular memory, influencing later monster films and the visual language of Cold War era paranoia about science run amok. Its practical effects shaped how audiences imagined oversized creatures.

Critical reception at the time was mixed but often noted its brisk pacing and practical effects. Modern viewers also see a clear commentary on nuclear anxiety and human hubris, with characters who must balance scientific curiosity against public safety and national defense. The film invites skepticism about quick military solutions.