In a departure from his usual cosmic horror, director Stuart Gordon directs the screen version of the cult Charlie Higson novel (the writer also provides the screenplay).
Earning a living doing odd jobs he’s not particularly qualified for, Sean Crawley (Chris McKenna) meets Duke (George Wendt), who suggests working for shady businessman Ray Matthews (Daniel Baldwin). Tasked with following a local government official, Eric Gatley (Ron Livingston), Sean becomes obsessed with his wife (Kari Wuhrer). But when Matthews suggests killing Eric during a drunken conversation and Crawley carries out the deed, things take a turn for the sinister. Crawley finds himself abducted and tortured, his captors looking for an important document.
Best known for his outstanding Lovecraft adaptations, Gordon takes a gritty crime drama and blows it into a delightfully twisted and brutal Coen-esque nightmare. Fans of Gordon’s particular brand of body horror won’t be disappointed with the outlandish and disturbing fever dreams Crawley suffers while being beaten to a pulp. The smouldering LA landscape and the motley collection of characters – all played fantastically by the cast – propel the neo-noir story along. Mad Max star Vernon Wells plays against type as a hard man with a conscience, and the sadly recently departed Wendt is in top form as the friend who perhaps shouldn’t have been trusted (and gets his comeuppance in spectacular fashion!). The final act shifts to a revenge angle, with Crawley settling in with the wife of his victim; despite being rather unlikely, it does serve the downfall of all involved.
Treasured Films’ packed Blu-ray presents the film looking great and the supplementary material is entertaining and enlightening. Among the newly produced features is a great making-of documentary that boasts input from Higson, McKenna, Wendt, and producer David Michael Latt (head honcho of the pre-Sharknado and mockbuster studio, The Asylum). A brilliant presentation of an underseen movie.
KING OF THE ANTS is out now on Blu-ray from Treasured Films.
