The first official trailer forIt Came from the Desertis finally here. The movie is based off of the 1989cult favorite video gameof the same name from Cinemaware on the Amiga and later the TurboGrafx-16 console. The game is inspired by multiple 1950s B movies, but mostly takes its cues from the 1954 classicThem!, where giant mutated ants become a national threat. Now it’s time forIt Came from the Desertto make its big screen debut and it looks fun as hell.
Finland’s Roger! Pictures is working with the original game developers, Cinemaware to produce the big screen adaptation. The horror-action-comedy started filming in 2015 and has been delayed a few times, but it looks as if we’re almost ready to see some giant mutated ants take over New Mexico in this fun creature feature. 39-year old Marko Mäkilaakso (War of the Dead) directed and co-wroteIt Came from the Desertwith Hank Woon (Age of Dinosaurs) andTrent Haaga(68 Kill) and from the looks of the trailer, they’re staying true to theB movie templateof pairing horror with the absurd.
The original video game came out in 1989 for the Amiga computer. The player takes on the role of Geologist Dr. Greg Bradley who arrives to the remote Desert Breath, Nevada in 1951 to investigate a meteor crash site. Bradley discovers that radiation from the meteor has turned the local ants intogiant mutated monstersthat are mating and spreading. Players must devise a plan to contain the ants while working against a ticking clock, counting down until the ants take over the world. The gameplay is interesting because a player cannot beat the game in one sitting. Instead after multiple deaths, the player must remember information from past playtimes to figure out the right spots to be in to contain the ants. Dr. Bradley visits new towns looking for clues and interviews people from the new towns. The game ends successfully when the player locates the ant colony and plants explosives near the queen, which is hopefully how the movie ends as well.
It Came from the Deserthas big shoes to fill in following 1954’sThemand 1977’sEmpire of the Ants, which are considered to be B movie classics. We’ll have to wait and see whereIt Came from the Desertplaces in the pantheon of giant, mutated ant movies, but it sure looks to be on point according to the trailer. The trailer contains humor, horror, action packed dirt bike riding, and of course giant mutated ants.
It Came from the Desertwas filmed in Almeria, Spain in the fall of 2016, in the Tabeneras Desert, which is the driest region in Europe. No release date is currently set, but this trailer is sure to get any B movie/horror fan excited. In the meantime, one might want to go dust off copies ofThem!andEmpire of the Antsto prepare for the upcoming movie and watch the trailer below courtesy ofRaven Banner Entertainment.
