Them!

Right now you can watch Them! In the US on IndieFlix and IndieFlix Shorts Amazon Channel — and it goes further with its ideas than most genre entertainment bothers to. It knows exactly what kind of film it is from the opening scene, and never loses that thread. 466 viewers have already rated it on TMDB — the kind of consensus that does not happen by accident. Watch it for James Whitmore — the performance elevates material that could easily tip into self-seriousness. Available now on IndieFlix — press play and find out why people keep recommending it.

Part of the current wave of titles people are actually watching, Them! Earns its spot. What makes Them! Work is that the ideas never crowd out the people having them. As a result of nuclear testing, gigantic, ferocious mutant ants appear in the American desert southwest, and a father-daughter team of entomologists join forces with the state police officer who first discovers their existence, an FBI agent and, eventually, the US Army to eradicate the menace, before it spreads across the continent — and the world. James Whitmore and James Arness lead a cast that makes the ambitious moments land. Them! Came out in 1954. What separates Them! From lesser genre entertainment is a willingness to let the concept cost the characters something. There is real craft here, even in the moments that do not fully land.

For late-night viewing or a proper weekend binge, Them! Fits the bill. It stands on its own even without an obvious comparison point. Short enough to finish in one sitting, substantial enough to feel satisfying. James Whitmore anchors it with a performance that makes the more abstract moments feel personal. If you have been burned by ambitious sci-fi before, this is the exception.