By Ray Walton

Released in 1954, Them! stands as one of the most influential creature features of the Cold War era. Emerging at a moment shaped by nuclear anxiety, McCarthyism, and deep-seated racial fear, the film transforms atomic fallout into a visible, external threat that can be hunted, studied, and destroyed.

Like many monster films of the period, Them! participates in a broader cultural pattern where fear of the unknown was displaced onto creatures rather than confronting prejudice directly. Giant monsters often stood in for anxieties about invasion, contamination, and the perceived danger of the Other. By relocating that fear into a science fiction spectacle, filmmakers could explore panic and control without explicitly naming the racial and political tensions driving it.

At the same time, Them! helped define the modern creature feature. Its mix of military response, scientific authority, and escalating threat established a blueprint that would shape decades of genre filmmaking. The film may wear its era openly, but its influence remains unmistakable.

As much as I love horror, this is actually my first true creature feature. Giant monsters were never something that particularly appealed to me, but I am glad I finally gave this one a chance.

The ants undeniably look fake, but they are still intimidating whenever they appear. One piece of trivia I love is that director Gordon Douglas once asked the editor if the ants looked honest, and the reply was, “As honest as twelve-foot ants can look.” That perfectly captures the spirit of the film.

What surprised me most was how well the movie balances tension and fun. Moments of levity arrive exactly when they should. Dr. Harold Medford’s line about a queen ant going on her wedding flight genuinely made me laugh. The plot is very straightforward. You come in expecting giant ants, and that is exactly what you get.

Not every movie needs to be deep to be effective. While some monster films are certainly stronger than others, Them! earns its reputation. It is a B-movie that ends up being far better than it has any right to be.

Why tonight?

Because some fears grow larger when they are buried rather than confronted.

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