Review: It’s Joan Collins Vs Giant Insects In EMPIRE OF THE ANTS

Posted on June 19, 2026 by Niall Browne in Reviews

Look, I don’t know if you can call Empire Of The Ants a good film in the traditional sense. Well, actually – scratch that – I’m positively certain that you wouldn’t call it a good film in the traditional sense. However, I’m also certain that you could call it a first-rate 1970s B-movie. Or ant-movie, if you want to use the correct entomology. Directed by the famed Bert I. Gordon, the film is (very) loosely based on the H.G. Wells story of the same name.

Joan Collins plays a dodgy property developer who takes a boatload of prospective buyers on a trip to survey their would-be land. Much to everyone’s surprise, radioactive waste has leaked onto the beach and managed to mutate the ants in the sand so that they’re now substantially bigger than the humans. As you can imagine, things turn out pretty good for the ants and not so good for everyone else.

Okay the plot’s preposterous, the visual effects are a little hokey, but Empire Of The Ants is an entertaining entry into the giant monster movie sub-genre where Bert I. Gordon literally made his name (they didn’t call him Mr. B.I.G for nothing). The cast do an amiable job running around the Florida Everglades pretending to be chased by giant insects – which is commendable considering there’s nothing there – or when there was it was a piece of rubber that they had to thrash around with.

Empire Of The Ants sees Joan Collins in the middle of her ‘70s horror phase – an interesting run that saw her star in the likes of Tales From The Crypt, Tales That Witness Madness and I Don’t Want To Be Born (aka The Devil Within Her, aka The Monster, aka Sharon’s Baby). Within five years she’d be riding high with her trademark role as Alexis Colby in Dynasty and the days of horror would be behind her (unless you include some horrific 80s fashion). Speaking of an iconic TV series, Empire Of The Ants also features CHiPs star Larry Pine (father of Chris).

Empire Of The Ants gives you everything you would hope and expect in this type of monster movie, but it also spins off into Invasion of The Bodysnatchers territory in its last act – giving you an extra bit of bang for your buck and spinning things off into an interesting direction.

It will never feature in the Criterion Collection (well, never say never), but there’s enjoyment to be had with Empire Of The Ants. It’s a little bit ridiculous, but enjoyable in its own right. At the end of the day, it’s a giant ant movie featuring giant ants – so if that’s what you want, then that’s what you most definitely get.

Special Features

Eureka Entertainment goes above and beyond for extras on this new blu-ray release of Empire Of The Ants.

First-up, you get an introduction by Chris Cooke, filmmaker and co-director of the Mayhem Film Festival. There’s also a Bert I. Gordon focused chat from Kim Newman – and a commentary from Mr B.I. G himself – Bert I. Gordon (who passed away in 2023 at the age of 100). Not only that, but there’s also a second talk track from film historians David Del Valle and Michael Varrati along with a trailer and radio spot.

Sadly, if you’re looking for input from Joan Collins, then you’re out of luck.