Phase IV

The fragments of information surrounding this production spells sort of a tragedy, I think. I was given the impression that Saul Bass (Director) had been eager to create films of his own, was afforded very little opportunity to do so, and exhausted many of his connections to assemble and fund Phase VI, which ended up a commercial failure and was later relegated to late night TV reruns and low rating time-slots, soon after it's theatrical stagnation and fiscal no-show. Saul is quite famous for his visual acuity, creating title sequences for several dozen films, many of them impressive, and designing movie posters, mostly. In his resume are a few short films as well, one being a promotional film for Solar Energy, which can be found on Youtube, along with several interviews. He also worked with Hitchcock on Psycho and one can find some interesting controversies surrounding the production of that film, specifically regarding accreditation for certain scenes.Subsequently lost to Phase IV was a Kubrick-like montage, tailing the film and comprising the ending, which had been removed from the original film without consultation with Saul himself and which the studio felt muddled the effect of the ending or confused the audience. This was done prior to release for purely commercial reasons and as one would expect outraged the director. Unfortunately, this sequence is not included on the DVD, nor can it be found online, although fragments can be viewed in the trailer of the film.Also of note: this DVD offers little in the way of extras, presumably there aren't many regardless, but this isn't quite the selling point. For a while Phase IV has basked in obscurity, and it's a blessing to see it in such relatively high quality on the DVD format. As far as I know the aspect ratio of the original film differs from the 1.78:1 format found on the DVD, but the ratios were close enough for a beautiful transfer. The picture is adequately clear, surprising considering how little the source material was likely valued by its keepers, and the packaging is what one would expect, and is minimal, hardly an issue for me personally.Visually, as in from an artistic standpoint, the film is a mixed bag. Scenes on the farm plot are a bit mediocre but the insect sequences, the desert landscapes, the geometrically abstract, seemingly Easter Island inspired monoliths and the clever use of macro lenses, the color palette and desolate feel of the yellow poison sequences and set designs are all beautifully done and inspiring. Good things can be said for the hard-suit designs as well, which contrast nicely with the environment and alien undertones. I believe there's a lot of merit in the film just from a visual standpoint, and although clunky and somewhat campy at times, the dialogue is dry enough to suspend disbelief if one is forgiving of certain lines and shortcomings, which do tend to interject themselves, specifically regarding the sonic messages delivered by the ants a la geometrical symbolism: the interpretation there is just a tad bit far fetched and the revelations in the thinking-out-loud mind of the biologist a bit beyond belief and awkward. Also, the romantic interest involved is a bit contrived, hyper-developed, unfortunately tacked on, which is not a new thing in Hollywood trends and tends to be expected. The film still manages to be believable. This is mainly due to the excellent sound design, the music especially being stellar, the very moderate and mostly implied presence of the insects "out there" and only a few examples of direct confrontation, and the general feeling of dread maintained mostly throughout (whilst the insects are shown, direct human-insect interaction is thankfully moderate and therefore we get less a sense of disbelief, such as one gets with movies involving murderous dolls or toys). This is what low budgets tend to do sometimes, in the hands of a skilled director, budgetary restraints can actually increase the value of the film, as scenes are well planned and tasteful, rather than absurd and DIRECTLY impacting. The terror is mostly psychological.Regardless of the flaws in the script, and regardless of some banal scenes mucking up what is otherwise an inspired visual poem, I love this film. I'm very glad it was finally released and that I can relive some memories of my childhood, watching a taped version of this, or whenever it aired on TV. I've grown to appreciate the film much more since then, and would recommend it to any forgiving person interested in brooding science fiction or inspired visual design, or in the possible tragedy of Saul's stunted career as a director, which might have been exceptional.

This is an odd film for me: I saw it when it first came out, I remembered the ending and the designation of the first three Phases ... but when I saw the film, the "Phase" designations were there but the ending was nothing like what I remembered!So I got to see it again for the very first time.The ant photography is really great, I'll say that for it. Undeniably authentic (well, of course it is: this was done years before CGI was even dreamed of).The plot is the basic bare-bones sort of story common to many low-budget "creature features": something (something extraterrestrial, shown at the start) causes ants of different species to work together and communicate with each other; their abilities develop through three Phases until the fourth phase is reached at the end of the film.A scientist discovers their new abilities and gets funding for a research station and an assistant. Like the stereotype he is he proves to be indifferent to who dies so long as the research continues. A local girl is inserted into the station.I noted above that my memory of the ending was completely different from the actual ending. And so it was, except that it had the same effect of showing what Phase IV was.But to find out what it is, you need to watch the movie!

Saul Bass's *Phase IV* lies within the interstices of science fiction and horror, and adds an unexpected element: that of sheer awe and mystery.As a partial inspiration for his film, Bass likely had the 1971 faux documentary *The Hellstrom Chronicle* in mind. *The Hellstrom Chronicle* suggested that insects will be the ultimate inheritors of the Earth. Bass, best known as a creator of film titles (most notably for many Hitchcock classics), was also a great admirer of Kubrick's *2001: A Space Odyssey*. He even wrote a brief letter of appreciation to Kubrick that is reprinted in Jerome Agel's book *The Making of 2001*. *Phase IV* itself seems a demonic inversion of Kubrick's film, offering, as it does, a rather different view of human destiny.Cosmic disturbances appear to have caused strange alterations in the behavior of ants. Instead of ordinary mounds, enormous towers bearing massive ant colonies have been discovered in the desert. The ants have also become aggressive, and are mounting nocturnal attacks upon local farmers and their livestock. In addition to a tremendous collective intelligence and purposiveness, the ants seem to have developed a virulent form of venom. A pair of scientists--the leader of whom exudes rationalist, anthropocentric arrogance--establishes a laboratory in the vicinity to study the phenomenon and to put an end to it.(Note: SPOILER ALERT!) I know: Just another 1950's B-movie retread about mutant insects thwarted in their evil plot for world domination by good, old-fashioned pluck and scientific know-how, right? Wrong! The ants--normal-sized, by the way--are more than a match for each of man's contrivances. By using their superior social organization and intelligence, and by fearless self-sacrifice, the mutant ants bring the humans to their knees in short order. The film's end leaves little doubt as to man's future, and eerily implies that the ants have a plan for a new "Adam and Eve" that is rather different from that of humanity's putative "creator".For the "species-traitor", it is exhilarating to see the ants, through their disciplined single-mindedness, triumph over the arrogant scientists. I doubt, however, that this theme endeared *Phase IV* to the movie-going public. In fact, given the film's mood, ending, and inadvertent demonstration of the power of quasi-fascistic social organization, it is easy to understand why *Phase IV* is not better known--and why Saul Bass never directed another film after this one.The DVD transfer, by the way, is very good--certainly as good as we are likely to get, in any case. While some commentary from the director would have been welcome (Bass, however, died in 1996), I do not miss the fact that the disc contains no extras.In sum, highly recommended.

Phase IV is a science fiction movie with stunning visuals that stuck in your mind. The picture and sound quality of the main feature and the alternate ending are nice.But the extras are a let down. 5 of the 6 short films are in SD-Quality from a video tape source. The doku "Bass on Titles" even looks better on YouTube! On this blu-ray the documentation shows interlacing and the examples from Saul Bass' title sequences are in the wrong aspect ratio. I couldn't believe it.Only "Quest" (1984), a 30 min. short film, is in HD-Quality, even so black areas are much too light here.I don't regret buying this release but the extras leave a bitter taste behind.

This review is for the GERMAN DVD with RED Titles on black background with a very big ANT!!! I am sorry to say I found thie only film directed by Bass to be a major disapointment. To me, he made the mistake of opening the film with nearly 10 minutes of nothing but Ants doing something very busily. Then having more and more scenes of ANTS doing something very busily, and when they do something critical we don't see it clearly....Also having a weak script that didn't make an awful lot of sense, and finally, and this is no criticism of 2 fine actors in Davenport and Murphy, a lack of well written parts for them.(Even Hoffman or Ford would have struggled). There is very little going for this film and I don't like being negative about a film that meant alot to Bass and to many other reviewers. It's just a matter of opinion I suppose. So, the price is right. It is different. Go for it, just don't be too disapointed (you may love it!!)

Two scientists (Nigel Davenport and Michael Murphy), on an isolated research station in the Arizona desert, are perturbed by a mass gathering of ants that are coming together as a collective body, further aroused by the arrival of a young girl (Lynne Frederick) on the isolated post.Not a film for those expecting a man vs. monsters horror, it’s an insight into the effect of the trio’s isolation trapped by the insects, continually growing in number and combined intelligence. Superb ant photography throughout, which might also be off-putting for some viewers, makes “Phase IV” a very memorable one-off directorial debut for Saul Bass.Also included are 6 shorts, the most interesting being “Bass On Titles”, with the filmmaker discussing his work creating movies’ opening titles and “Quest” based upon a Ray Bradbury sci-fi story.

I just could not get into the plot behind this film and found it rather boring after about 20 minutes and put it away. I have since tried again to watch it but the result was the same; boredom. I have now put it away for good. Just to say, there will probably be many of you out there who have enjoyed this film, and I respect your view on it. I have to be held by a film within about 20 - 25 minutes otherwise I just seem to reject it. If you think you might like this film then don't let me stand in your way.

I had seen this movie 38 years ago in a small cinema in antwerpen.After all these years I was afraid that time had tainted my memory.Not so, this is still a creepy movie, like they don't make am very often.The first days after watching this movie, you will make a detour for every Ant you encounter.The picture-quality of the movie is okay.