The "killer bug" film has been a constant staple
in genre films for more than half a century. The big bug films were huge in the
50's, 60's and 70's with titles like Tarantula, Food of the Gods and Empire of
the Ants. Size can be intimidating for some viewers of these fine creature features but for me it was the smaller insects and arachnids that created a much more realistic scare. Scream
Factory's recent release of Terence H. Winkless' The Nest is one film that did
just that - featuring hordes of disgusting flesh-eating cockroaches.
Some carelessness
leads to disaster when a small ocean-side town is terrorized by flesh-eating
cockroaches who mutate as a result of hazardous waste dumping. Mayor Johnson
(Robert Lansing, Bonaza, Empire of the Ants) doesn't really think much of the
situation. Johnson's daughter, Elizabeth (Lisa Langlois) is the opposite, she
wants to get right to who or what are killing residents of the town. With the
assistance of the quiet and very in-over-his-head cop, Officer Tarbell (Frank
Luz, Ghost Town, When Harry Met Sally), Elizabeth attempts to get to the bottom of
the carnage.