Phase IV is a 1974 U.S. sci-fi film with a horrific premise. It is the only feature-length film directed by the noted title sequence designer Saul Bass (Psycho) It stars Michael Murphy (Strange Behavior, Shocker), Nigel Davenport and Lynne Frederick (Schizo).
The interiors of the film were shot at Pinewood Studios in England and the exterior locations were shot in Kenya, Africa even though the film is set in the Arizona desert. The film was a box office flop and as a result this was the only feature film directed by Bass. It has since gained a cult following due to TV airings beginning in 1975.
According to the book Future Tense, “Bass originally filmed a spectacular, surreal montage lasting four minutes, showing what life would be like in the ‘new’ Earth, but this was cut by the distributor.” The montage was supposed to suggest that the two surviving characters were altered by the ants creating the next step in evolution for humanity and insects. In June 2012, a few faded prints of the original ending sequence were found in the Saul Bass Collection at the Academy Film Archive, and this excerpt screened to the public in Los Angeles. The novelization of playwright/screenwriter Mayo Simon’s screenplay, written by Barry N. Malzberg, gives a hint of the final version by Bass.
Due to some unknown cosmic event, listed in “phases”, ants have undergone rapid evolution and developed a hive mind. A scientific team begins investigating strange towers and geometrically perfect designs that ants have started building in the desert. The local human population flees the strangely acting ants. James Lesko (Murphy) and Ernest Hubbs (Davenport) set up a computerized lab in a sealed dome located in an area of significant ant activity in Arizona. The ant colony and the scientific team, along with a holdout rural family, make war against each other, with the ants being the more effective aggressors. The narrative uses the scientific team as the main protagonists, but there are also ant protagonists going about their duties in the colony. The ants immunize themselves to the humans’ chemical weapons and soon infiltrate their lab…
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‘Phase IV is unfairly known as a bad movie (it was one of the earliest films mocked by Mystery Science Theater 3000); while it’s not any sort of traditional film, it’s unique and odd enough to granted more critical nuance than just ‘bad.’ It’s a creepily effective thriller, a heay philosophical trip and even possibly a metaphorical argument in favor of Communism.’ Devin Faraci, Badass Digest
‘Plastic relationships between ants and men are occasionally established — most strikingly, in a cut from the monolith-like anthills to a row of computers inside the dome – but the dramatic relationships are perpetually suspended. One suspects that if Bass were able to eliminate actors and dialogue entirely, he might be able to pursue his graphic interests with much more continuity and distinction; saddled with an impossibly outworn string of clichés and platitudes, and an uncomfortable cast to deliver them, he has to content himself with an elegant book jacket; to house a disintegrating.’ Jonathan Rosenbaum
‘This is a film of ideas and images rather than character dynamics, and as such, it doesn’t really matter that the actors aren’t given much meat to chew on. The three leads are solid, but they’re forced into sharing an equal amount of screen time with insects, and it’s hard to choose which side is more interesting to watch. That said, I would have welcomed more dialogue and interaction between the scientists and a little less bug footage, as well done as it is. This balance between the insect and human worlds does give the film its unique feel, however. There really isn’t anything out there quite like it, and I recommend it to those looking for a slice of uncanny sci-fi, or just something completely off the beaten path.’ The Stalking Moon
