Nature Runs Amok
Nature Runs Amok is my term for the sub-genre often labelled “Eco Horror” or “When Nature Strikes Back” – films in which humanity faces the catastrophic consequences of meddling with the natural world. While Alfred Hitchcock’s The Birds (1963) was an early landmark, it wasn’t until the environmental anxieties of the 1970s that the genre truly took flight, rising in tandem with the era’s booming disaster films. B-movie directors like William Girdler and Bert I. Gordon revelled in the chaos, churning out everything from cult classics to glorious trash. Aging Hollywood stars found new life battling bloodthirsty frogs, rampaging rabbits, venomous snakes, and vengeful dogs – creatures that served as metaphors for nature’s fury. Yet beneath the schlock and spectacle, one chilling truth lingered: man is still the most dangerous animal of all.
Some of these films are Creature Features at heart – but that is a category of its own, as is Monster Movie Madness, where I put the atomic mutants of the 1950s.
Links take you to the IMDd. Circled titles: A Point Blank Films fav!
Ants! (1977) 3/10
The lesser ant movie of 1977 because the ants are normal sized; Myrna Loy is confined to a wheelchair, there's some soapy melodrama, and the finale is absurd - but it's a TV movie so it's still watchable. aka Ants; It Happened at Lakewood Manor See also TV Movies
The Birds (1963) 10/10
Post-Psycho, Hitchcock needed another hit, and here he delivered a wonderful eco horror – while it takes a while to get going, there is much to enjoy along the way, with even an allegory in the mix.
Bug (1975) 5/10
Bradford Dillman was a likeable leading man, and while this film maintains credibility for the most part – despite a plot about fire-starting mutant cockroaches – it’s quite a revolting flick.
Day of the Animals (1977) 5/10
A very 70s battle for survival in a chemically imbalanced forest, this features Leslie Neilsen hamming it up, Ruth Roman going hysterical, and other staples of its stodgy genre.
Deadly Eyes (1982) 6/10
Dachshunds were dressed up as rats for this wintery Canadian adaptation of James Herbert’s excellent novel The Rats; bad but enjoyable. aka The Rats See also Canuxploitation
Empire of the Ants (1977) 4/10
Joan Collins was in some real stinkers, and this Bert I. Gordon-H. G. Wells drive-in flick is up there with the best (or worst?), with giant ants using mind control to force humans to work at their sugar factory!
The Food of the Gods (1976) 4/10
Matte paintings, rear projection, slumming elderly stars, and giant chickens, wasps, grubs and rats conspire in particularly cheesy Bert I. Gordon-H. G. Wells flick.
Frogs (1972) 4/10
Frogs hardly make an appearance in this silly eco thriller, but it was one of the first in the 70s cycle, and stars Ray Milland as a grumpy patriarch overseeing the schlocky fun.
Grizzly (1976) 5/10
The most financially successful independent film of 1976, audiences must have been hoping for another Jaws but got this schlocky creature feature instead, which has badly faded with time.
Jurassic Park (1993) 8/10
Exceptionally well-made Steven Spielberg classic with spectacular FX which despite cringy moments, bratty children and product placement is the definition of the summer blockbuster.
Kingdom of the Spiders (1977) 6/10
Straight out of William Shatner’s B movie period, this eco horror about marauding tarantulas is more serious than it sounds – chilling final shot is clearly a matte painting typical of the film’s schlock.
Long Weekend (1978) 9/10
Superb Aussie eco horror which despite a low budget rises well above others of its genre and remains a highly effective forgotten classic, building a genuine sense of dread. See also Ozploitation
Night of the Lepus (1972) 2/10
Surely the worst film released by MGM, you would think a plot involving giant marauding bunny rabbits would at least be fun, but it’s quite boring and even the lovely elderly cast can’t save it.
The Pack (1977) 6/10
The residents of a vacation island find themselves terrorized by a pack of dogs in underrated nature runs amok horror that outdoes Cujo.
Phase IV (1974) 6/10
Inspired by H. G. Wells, this box office flop was the only film directed by graphic designer Saul Bass, and while filled with interesting flourishes is ultimately unsatisfying. See also Apocalyptic
Prophecy (1979) 7/10
Ostensibly about a mutant bear, this good looking eco horror rises above its pedigree thanks to John Frankenheimer’s solid direction though it has a standard creature feature finale.
Slugs (1988) 6/10
One of the slimiest films ever made – with gory FX – formulaic fun all the way.
Squirm (1976) 6/10
Millions of man-eating worms run amok in schlocky eco horror with good FX by Rick Baker.
Sssssss (1973) 6/10
A mad herpetologist tries to transform humans into snakes – and silly plot aside this is campy, slickly made fun, featuring many veteran cast members. aka SSSSnake
Tremors (1990) 7/10
Amusing throwback to 1950s monster movies with star turn by Kevin Bacon.
Venom (1981) 9/10
A stellar cast including Klaus Kinski and Oliver Reed star in this British hostage thriller with unorthodox plot featuring a deadly Black Mamba snake; taut, terrific and terrifying!
Wild Beasts (1984) 5/10
A zoo is contaminated with PCP and the animals run amok in demented Italian exploiter with a few effective moments amid the cheese. aka The Wild Beasts