Them!

Warner Bros. | Release Date: June 19, 1954

CRITIC SCORE DISTRIBUTION

74	METASCORE Generally favorable reviews based on 18 Critic Reviews

Positive:

Mixed:

Negative:

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Critic Reviews

Critic score Publication By date

100

Steve Simels

The movie’s then-state-of-the-art mechanical beasties aren’t entirely convincing, but this archetypal ’50s monsters-on-the-loose flick can still tingle your carapace, thanks to taut direction, an intelligent script, a believable cast, and a nail-bitingly effective climax in the sewers of Los Angeles. Read full review

Staff (Not Credited)

For craftsmanship, fine acting and excellent direction, Them! tops practically all previous such fiction. It offers excitement, humor, suspense; also, romance which, however, is reduced to a minimum. [20 Jun 1954, p.11C]

Staff (Not Credited)

By far the best of the '50s cycle of 'creature features', Them! and its story of a nest of giant radioactive ants (the result of an atomic test in the New Mexico desert) retains a good part of its power today. Read full review

Staff (Not Credited)

This science-fiction shocker has a well-plotted story [by George Worthington Yates, adapted by Russell Hughes], expertly directed and acted in a matter-of-fact style. Read full review

Philip K. Scheuer

It's an ingeious thriller, all right, in the science-fiction tradition of "War of the Worlds" and "It Came From Outer Space" -- with a bit of "The Naked Jungle" thrown in. [19 Jun 1954, p.12]

Leonard Lerner

Lovers of science-fiction pictures will certainly go home satisfied. [18 Jun 1954, p.15]

Marion Aitchison

Views of the creatures, which had the youngsters screeching delightedly, are plenty scary -- in fact the blown-up scenes of actual ants, such as everyone in the hot country knows, are enough to make you squirm. [24 Jun 1954, p.7D]

Dorothy Masters

The threatened catastrophe, as destructive as any H-bomb, is handled with enough realism and tension to be plenty scary. [04 Jul 1954, p.20]

Mildred Martin

A first-rate horror film, of which there aren't many. [17 Jun 1954, p.19]

Staff (Not Credited)

Delightful but not serious suspense; audience hysteria -- and flame throwers guaranteed to scare the wits out of anyone who ever had a hot foot. [17 Jun 1954, p.37]

Myles Standish

The latest in pseudo-scientific horror films, Them!... displays some ingenuity and imagination and is guaranteed to raise a fright wig on every head for the first half, anyway. [18 Jun 1954, p.2D]

TV Guide MagazineStaff (Not Credited)

THEM! is one of the best of a 1950s spate of monster movies rooted in nuclear paranoia. Read full review

A.H. Weiler

Suffice it to say that the combination of three writers, director Gordon Douglas, producer David Weisbart and a cooperative cast have helped make the proceedings tense, absorbing and, surprisingly enough, somewhat convincing. Read full review

The Observer (UK)C.A. Lejeune

It moves fast and is superbly silly. [01 Aug 1954, p.6]

The GuardianStaff (Not Credited)

This is one of the better films of its kind. [31 Jul 1954, p.3]

Dave Kehr

Decently budgeted and atmospheric, it’s a sober accomplishment in a cycle that would quickly turn to self-parody. Read full review

Mae Tinee

They are all more capable performers than are usually found in horror films, and the script is not as stiffly self-conscious as the average, either, with the result that this does of devastation is a bit easier to take than some of its predecessors. [22 Jun 1954, p.27]

R.H. Gardner

Though Them benefits from a well-motivated script, it suffers from the same hackneyed ingredients that characterize most films of the same genre. [22 Jun 1954, p.12]