SWARMED (2005)

[The Burgomaster]

I bought this DVD (on a whim) at Best Buy yesterday and here are my thoughts:

After the first 15 minutes or so, it seemed like this was going to be one of the better "killer insect" movies.  However, it turned out to be just a run-of-the-mill flick with a few very stupid moments.  These very stupid moments include:

**** WARNING - - YOU MAY FIND SOME "SPOILERS" BELOW!!!!!! ****

* A woman trying to kill a wasp with a shotgun (these are normal sized wasps, by the way).

* A wasp that survives 1) a propane explosion, 2) being sucked into a vacuum, AND 3) being burned in a fire.

* An exterminator who is specifically told NOT to use the pesticide in the red container - - and then uses it anyway

* The usual, "I don't care how many people may be killed by genetically altered wasps, we are NOT cancelling the town's barbecue competition!" attitide by town officials

This is a Canadian film that is set in an American town (somewhere in either Indiana or Minnesota, I believe).  It does have a few of decent scenes - - one in which a guy gets stung in the eyeball and there is a nice closeup of this happening . . . However, overall, this is just a tired cross between the old 1950s "man should not meddle in the ways of nature" sci-fi flicks and the 1980s TV movies about killer bees.

[trekgeezer]

Killing wasps with a shotgun is definitely an aquired skill. I always like the recycled Jaws plot, the mayor is just looking out for the towns financial well-being.

[Shadowphile]

That's not just a Jaws plot.  The mayor not being willing to cancel the festival/parade/competition/orgy has been a staple of monster flicks for decades...

[Ash]

Was this a Sci-Fi channel movie?
I know I've heard of this one before.

[odinn7]

I always prefer to shoot wasps with a .22 as it seems to be more of a challenge...of course, for close quarter combat with a wasp, nothing beats a pen-knife.

[The Burgomaster]

ASH:

Apparently, it is a made-for-TV movie, but I'm not sure if it was made for the Sci-Fi Channel.  It does have that Sci-Fi Channel look and feel to it, though . . .