Plot: What’s it about?
After an unexplained cosmic event, a world that was once ignored has risen and demanded to be heard. The ants of the world are small and their world is underfoot, so humans don’t pay much attention to what goes on down there. But after this cosmic event, the ants have stopped just taking all the stomps, sprays, and magnifying glasses, in ways that have the world taking notice of this small world. A series of strange patterns appears and has scientists baffled, as it seems to be the work of ants. The ants have become super intelligent and banded together, even driving people out of their homes. As scientists race to try to learn why these events have unfolded, the ants seem to be taking actions of their own…
This is a movie about ants gone wild, but don’t expect an insane killer ants type of scenario, as Phase IV is more sci/fi than “when animals attack.” I hadn’t been able to see the movie until this Legend Films release, but based on what I had heard and the involvement of Saul Bass, I had decent expectations. The main issue with Phase IV is that it moves at a slow pace and in truth, can be a touch dull at times. But Bass makes the most of the atmosphere and visuals, relying more on those elements than dialogue or traditional narrative. In the end, Phase IV has great atmosphere and is a nice old school style take on the “nature run amok” genre, but I think a rental is the best option.
Video: How does it look?
Phase IV is presented in 1.78:1 anamorphic widescreen. This looks good, but of course, shows signs of the tolls of time. The print is by no means in bad condition, but there is frequent debris and grain. These issues cause some softness, but the image has decent detail in most scenes. I found colors to be bright and natural, while contrast is a little inconsistent, but holds up well in most instances. All in all, a more than acceptable treatment.
Audio: How does it sound?
A solid, though unremarkable soundtrack is used here and on the whole, it handles the material in fine fashion. You’ll hear some hiss, pops, and other signs of wear are evident, but not as many as you might assume. In addition, these errors never become a distraction and as such, I doubt anyone will complain too much. Not a bad soundtrack at all.
Supplements: What are the extras?
This disc includes no bonus materials.
