The Swarm Movie Review

Back in the late ‘70s, in addition to demonic possession, Legionnaire's Disease, and punk rock, everyone was worried about a rumored species of “killer bees” flying up from Mexico to sting everyone to death. Several flicks were rushed into existence to allow filmgoers to vicariously live out their newfound terror of murderous insects (and hopefully make the filmmakers lots of money). The Swarm was probably the most ambitious of these “Bee” movies, but despite a cast full of dependables like Henry Fonda, Slim Pickens, and Fred MacMurray, this would-bee disaster epic is just a disaster. Scientist Michael Caine fends off a swarm of the much-vaunted killer bees when they attack metro Houston. The bees everybody was so scared of are really just black spots painted on the film. What a gyp! Yes, it's better than The Bees, but that's not saying a lot…

1978 (PG) 116m/C Michael Caine, Katharine Ross, Richard Widmark, Lee Grant, Richard Chamberlain, Olivia de Havilland, Henry Fonda, Fred MacMurray, Patty Duke, Ben Johnson, Jose Ferrer, Slim Pickens, Bradford Dillman, Cameron Mitchell; D: Irwin Allen; W: Stirling Silliphant; C: Fred W. Koenekamp; M: Jerry Goldsmith, John Williams. Nominations: Academy Awards ‘78: Best Costume Design. VHS, Beta WAR