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That's the cry for help from a helpless helicopter pilot as he encounters a deadly swarm of killer bees on his way, causing him to crash. But that's exactly what this 70's disaster film delivers; a swarm of bees causing helicopter crashes, train derailments, ruined picnics, and lots of deaths.
The Swarm follows the government efforts to stop this swarm from causing more chaos. At the front of everything is Dr. Bradford Crane (Michael Caine), a scientist that has been tracking this bees for a while and whose attitude and methods clash with those of the general who's overseeing things. Meanwhile, in nearby Marysville, townsfolk find themselves in the path of the deadly swarm.
But along with the swarm of killer bees comes a swarm of aging actors making guest appearances in this film. Henry Fonda, Olivia de Havilland, Fred MacMurray, Slim Pickens, José Ferrer; I'm still wondering how they managed to get them all on this dumb film, but that was a common occurrence at the time (see The Towering Inferno, The Poseidon Adventure, etc.)
But it is Caine the one who's on top of things, and he chews scenery like a madman in this. His whole approach to solving things doesn't make much sense, but then again, neither does any of the things characters do in the film. "Look! There's a swarm of killer bees coming! Gee, if only I could close my window!"
Regardless of its many flaws, which include stung victims having frequent hallucinations of giant bees (see the picture!), the film is rarely boring. For a 2 hour dumb disaster film, I'd say that's quite a feat. But I guess it delivers what it promises: disaster, chaos, camp, scenery chewing, and bees! millions of bees!
Grade:
THE SWARM
(1978, Allen)
A disaster film
(1978, Allen)
A disaster film
"Oh, my God! Bees! Bees! Millions of bees! Air Search Two-Eight to base. Bees. Millions of bees!"
That's the cry for help from a helpless helicopter pilot as he encounters a deadly swarm of killer bees on his way, causing him to crash. But that's exactly what this 70's disaster film delivers; a swarm of bees causing helicopter crashes, train derailments, ruined picnics, and lots of deaths.
The Swarm follows the government efforts to stop this swarm from causing more chaos. At the front of everything is Dr. Bradford Crane (Michael Caine), a scientist that has been tracking this bees for a while and whose attitude and methods clash with those of the general who's overseeing things. Meanwhile, in nearby Marysville, townsfolk find themselves in the path of the deadly swarm.
But along with the swarm of killer bees comes a swarm of aging actors making guest appearances in this film. Henry Fonda, Olivia de Havilland, Fred MacMurray, Slim Pickens, José Ferrer; I'm still wondering how they managed to get them all on this dumb film, but that was a common occurrence at the time (see The Towering Inferno, The Poseidon Adventure, etc.)
But it is Caine the one who's on top of things, and he chews scenery like a madman in this. His whole approach to solving things doesn't make much sense, but then again, neither does any of the things characters do in the film. "Look! There's a swarm of killer bees coming! Gee, if only I could close my window!"
Regardless of its many flaws, which include stung victims having frequent hallucinations of giant bees (see the picture!), the film is rarely boring. For a 2 hour dumb disaster film, I'd say that's quite a feat. But I guess it delivers what it promises: disaster, chaos, camp, scenery chewing, and bees! millions of bees!
Grade: