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Ticks is a horror movie from 1993 that follows a group of troubled teens who are sent on a therapeutic camping trip deep in the woods of California. The group is led by a rugged survivalist named Sir (Peter Scolari), who is tasked with helping the teens overcome their personal issues and fears by challenging them to face the wilds of nature.

At first, the teens are excited about the adventure, but it soon becomes apparent that something is amiss in the woods. They start to notice that the animals are behaving strangely, and that there is an unusual abundance of ticks in the area. The ticks, however, are not your normal garden variety ticks. They have been genetically modified by a local drug dealer named Jarvis (Clint Howard), who has been using a secret government-funded lab to brew a new strain of ticks that grow to the size of dogs and have a taste for human flesh.

As the teens start to encounter these giant ticks, they quickly realize that they are no match for the ravenous creatures. Some of the group try to escape the woods, while others stay behind to fight the ticks head on. Along the way, they must confront their personal demons and learn to work together in order to survive the deadly onslaught.

As the ticks grow more aggressive and their numbers multiply, the group must figure out a way to stop Jarvis and destroy the lab where the ticks were created. But as they journey deeper into the woods, they discover that there are more dangers lurking in the shadows than they ever could have expected.

Despite its low-budget production values and cheesy special effects, Ticks is a surprisingly effective horror movie that manages to elicit genuine scares and thrills. The tension is skillfully built up through a series of well-executed set pieces, with the claustrophobic forest settings and creepy insect sounds creating an atmosphere of dread and suspense.

The ensemble cast is uniformly strong, with each of the teen characters given enough depth and personality to make them stand out as individuals. Rosalind Allen and Ami Dolenz are particularly noteworthy as city girls who are out of their element in the woods, while Seth Green brings his trademark wit and humor to the role of a smart-mouthed stoner.

The film also benefits from a wry sense of humor that never detracts from the horror elements. There are several memorable one-liners and sight gags sprinkled throughout, including a hilarious scene where one of the characters fights off a giant tick with a blowtorch.

In terms of its themes, Ticks is a surprisingly nuanced film that delves into issues of addiction, trauma, and the struggle to overcome one's own weaknesses. It is a testament to the filmmakers that these elements are woven seamlessly into the fabric of the horror story, without ever feeling preachy or heavy-handed.

Overall, Ticks is a fun and thrilling horror movie that delivers the goods for fans of the genre. Its low-budget charms and enthusiastic performances make it a cult classic that is still enjoyed by audiences today.

Ticks is a 1994 horror movie with a runtime of 1 hour and 25 minutes. It has received mostly poor reviews from critics and viewers, who have given it an IMDb score of 5.5 and a MetaScore of 43.