There’s no denying that movies about big, scary, disgusting, deadly insects are simply irresistible. The movie industry would have a much duller history without them. No one’s really sure why we love our bug monsters so much. Perhaps when our fear of the very real insects we encounter is amplified, we just can’t look away. Here’s our list of the top five insect movies. If they’re not on an old VHS tape in your attic, you can probably find most of them available for streaming. Grab your popcorn, but make sure it’s not moving before you turn out the lights.
1. The Fly
In the original 1958 film starring David Hedison and Patricia Owens, a scientist tries to transport his body’s molecules through a device he invented, but a house fly gets trapped in the transport chamber. The poor guy ends up with the head and arm of the fly. The fly, which promptly disappears, sports human appendages. The original film was effective enough to spawn two sequels. In 1986, a remake starring Jeff Goldblum and Geena Davis made the concept even more gruesome through modern special effects.
2. Arachnophobia
The term arachnophobia refers to an irrational fear of spiders, but this film makes the fright seem perfectly reasonable. In it, a large South American spider trapped inside a coffin with a corpse makes its way to the States where it mates with a local spider. The resulting deadly spawn proceed to devour the citizens of a small California town.
3. Skeeter
This 1993 film combines toxic waste dumping with insect mayhem. A corrupt businessman inadvertently creates a swarm of giant, mutated mosquitoes that are hungry for blood. It’s a great film to watch after a summer cookout.
4. Mothra
Americans aren’t the only ones with a taste for scary bugs. In this 1961 classic from director Ishirô Honda, a gigantic moth swims to Japan and builds an enormous cocoon on Tokyo Tower. The film was so popular that Mothra later took on Godzilla in a sequel.
5. Them!
There’s nothing more annoying than ants, except perhaps giant radioactive ants that eat people. The 1954 film’s political undercurrent warned of the dangers of atomic testing. After seeing this one, those mounds of fire ants in your back yard might not seem so evil.
For Off-Screen Bugs, Call ABC Home & Commercial Services
If you see a creepy crawler that’s not 10 feet tall and doesn’t come from outer space, please give us a call. Texas bugs can be pretty scary, but we’ve been helping Austin home and business owners get rid of them since 1949. Our quality pest control methods can handle any of the real bugs that sneak into your environment, so contact us today to schedule service or a free estimate.