I watched this recently as part of my kaiju movie club and I loved it! Really fun film and very watchable even in 2023.

Damn commie ants.

Great poster though.

https://www.sothebys.com/en/buy/collectibles/_them-movie-poster-44a2

Have to give a partial nod to The Beast from 20,000 Fathoms (1953) - radiation doesn't cause the monster in that one, but a nuclear test wakes it up. And the fact that it made a bunch of money (following on from a 1952 reissue of King Kong, originally released in 1933, that did pretty well) is probably partially responsible for Them! being made.

Understandable that the nuclear program (let alone the bombings in 1945) would kick off a "science is dangerous" trope, but I feel like that went on too long and probably fostered mistrust in science to an unhealthy level for decades (yes, I know Frankenstein probably started it).

But I agree with you, Them! is actually a pretty good movie, especially for the time and genre.

I adore Them. Such an underrated gem of a science fiction movie.

See 1974's Phase IV for another take on ants as the story's antagonist. It's notable for being graphic designer Saul Bass's only directing credit, as well as that general 1970s slow-paced creepiness that is as much atmosphere as story.

Them! makes use of the Wilhelm Scream.

This movie is awesome! I need to rewatch it

And it just embodies the can-do attitude of America in the 50s! Big hole full of things we can barely shoot thru? Get gas and flamethrowers, and we're going in! Flying ants? Call in P-80s! The spiritual parent to Aliens. I honestly feel like Aliens is just a remake of Them! With a heaping helping of 80s nihilism and ennui.

Great movie. It was considered a staple of sci-fi cinema by my parents' generation and was one of the first (if not the first) to use ants as antagonists.

Absolutely great film - I don’t think many movies now would start a film with a shellshocked child the way this one did…nabbed my wife’s attention immediately and kept her going to the end.

Archive.org is a great resource - just sayin’ 😉

I spent a lot of time long ago playing It Came from the Desert, so this movie was a great find later.

Classic movie. You can get on Blu-ray. Also the Fallout 3 quest "Those!" is based on the movie. Leonard Nimoy is also in the film.