It Came from the Desert was directed by Finnish film-maker Marko Mäkilaakso, who also gave us the utterly abysmal War of the Dead (2011) -- and it's another dud. The intention was clearly to make a fun, pulpy big bug movie, but with a script that feels like it was written by teenagers, a dreadful cast, and Asylum/SyFy standard special effects, the film doesn't cut it, even as schlocky B-movie entertainment.
Harry Lister Smith plays mechanic Brian, who accompanies dirt bike champion Lukas (Alex Mills) to a party in the desert to celebrate his recent victory. The fun is cut short when giant genetically modified ants attack the revellers, including Brian's love interest Lisa (Vanessa Grasse), and carry them off to a nest to feed their young.
One might make the argument that this film is intentionally bad, in keeping with the trashy monster movie subject matter, but this excuse only works if the result is fun, and funny, and it isn't. The humour is sophomoric, the characters moronic, and the story plain sucks. A budget of just 400,000 euros explains the cruddy visual effects, but the film is in desperate need of something that money can't buy: talent.
2.5/10, generously rounded up to 3 for the nice desert scenery.
Harry Lister Smith plays mechanic Brian, who accompanies dirt bike champion Lukas (Alex Mills) to a party in the desert to celebrate his recent victory. The fun is cut short when giant genetically modified ants attack the revellers, including Brian's love interest Lisa (Vanessa Grasse), and carry them off to a nest to feed their young.
One might make the argument that this film is intentionally bad, in keeping with the trashy monster movie subject matter, but this excuse only works if the result is fun, and funny, and it isn't. The humour is sophomoric, the characters moronic, and the story plain sucks. A budget of just 400,000 euros explains the cruddy visual effects, but the film is in desperate need of something that money can't buy: talent.
2.5/10, generously rounded up to 3 for the nice desert scenery.