Watch Phase IV

Phase IV is a science fiction thriller movie from 1974 that tells a story of two scientists trying to solve the mystery behind a deadly ant invasion in the Arizona desert. Directed by Saul Bass, the movie stars Nigel Davenport and Michael Murphy as the two scientists, Dr. Ernest D. Hubbs and James R. Lesko, respectively. Lynne Frederick plays Kendra Eldridge, a young woman caught up in the ant invasion and who is taken into the scientists' care.

The movie begins with a mysterious event that occurs across the world, where ants begin to exhibit unified behavior such as circling large objects for no apparent reason. Dr. Hubbs, a renowned entomologist, and James Lesko, his younger assistant, notice strange and erratic behavior in the ants near a remote research station in the Arizona desert. They observe ants exhibiting unusual intelligence, unparalleled to that of any other ants in the wild. As they try to investigate the ants' behavior, the duo realizes a disturbing development of a society among the ants. They construct elaborate obelisks, create complex patterns in the sand, and even take animals and humans as hostages.

Dr. Hubbs and Lesko declare a war on the ants and try to exterminate them using chemical weapons, but the ants prove to be too intelligent and adapt too quickly to their efforts. The scientists then resort to developing an antidote that can stop the ants' behavior from spreading, but as they carry out their experiments, they realize that the ants are only getting smarter, and the duo is losing control of the situation.

As the movie progresses, Dr. Hubbs and Lesko become increasingly desperate to find a way to stop the ants before it's too late. They soon realize that the ants are planning something much more significant, and they are only part of a much more extensive invasion. The scientists are then forced to confront the possibility that the ants' collective intelligence might be the result of the evolution of the ant species rather than a random event. They must solve the mystery and find a way to stop the ants before they spread and take over the entire human race.

The movie, despite being made on a low budget, has excellent cinematography, and the special effects are impressive, considering the time period. The movie's soundtrack is haunting and adds a lot of tension and unease to the already eerie movie.

Phase IV is a unique and thought-provoking mix of science fiction and ecological horror that puts the audience on edge. The movie creates an atmosphere of suspense and dread that is excellent, and it's nice to see a less-than-idealistic portrayal of humanity's attempts at dealing with non-human entities.

In conclusion, Phase IV is a thrilling and thought-provoking movie that explores the possibility of the evolution of the ant species and its implications on the human race. The movie combines excellent cinematography and special effects to create an atmosphere of unease and suspense that will leave the audience on edge. The movie's thought-provoking plot and unique mix of horror and science fiction make it a must-watch for fans of the genre.

Phase IV is a 1974 horror movie with a runtime of 1 hour and 31 minutes. It has received mostly poor reviews from critics and viewers, who have given it an IMDb score of 6.4 and a MetaScore of 49.