I’m an ’80s obsessed 44-year-old man who just doesn’t want to let it go. Thankfully, I’m not the only one, and there are filmmakers out there trying to keep the spirit alive. Dead Ant isn’t really a throwback ’80s movie, but the sensibility is there, delivering a hard-rocking great time. Director Ron Carlson (All American Christmas Carol) delivers an instant cult classic, a movie so much fun, you’ll be begging for more.
Sonic Grave are a hair metal band from the ’80s hoping to make a comeback. Their manager, Danny (Tom Arnold), have them booked at a festival called No-Chella and it appears it’s their chance to let audiences know they can still rock. Before they do so, the plan is to head out to the desert and find an old Native American who sells some legendary peyote. Looking to be inspired, they take the drug and all hell breaks loose when giant ants appear and terrorize them.
Dead Ant seemed to come from out of nowhere and is hysterically funny. I found myself laughing out loud far more than I had expected. It’s first and foremost a comedy with elements of horror thrown in for good measure. I think what works best for the film is the cast. Tom Arnold is always a wild card, if he’s not used correctly his sense of humor might not work. Arnold has all the best lines and steals nearly every scene he appears in. His only true competition is Jake Busey, someone (much like Arnold) who is always used to the best of his abilities. Busey is very convincing as the band’s lead vocalist and as a comedic duo, he and Arnold are cinematic gold. Imagine my surprise seeing Sean Astin as the bass player of an ’80s rock band. Astin shines no matter what he’s in, despite the fact he’s saddled with a Dollar Store wig here. Leisha Hailey has several great moments herself as the band’s drummer. Rhys Coiro may not be as well known as his fellow fictional band mates, but holds his own as the power ballad hating lead guitarist. It was even a surprise to see that the CGI ants looked pretty impressive.
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There are a couple of minor issues. Even though the ants looked pretty solid, not all the CGI was up to par. I also felt the super talented Sydney Sweeney wasn’t used to her full potential. While the opening scene is definitely an attention grabber, it served very little purpose. That being said, even though there might be a few minor grievances, Dead Ant is top quality entertainment. The costumes, the music, the comedy are all driven by a fantastic cast and crew. Ron Carlson has a goldmine on his hands and I can picture a series of madcap adventures featuring Sonic Grave.
Don’t miss out on Dead Ant, which is currently on all VOD services.
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