The Nest

We've had sharks, ants, killer bees, werewolves, worms, and a host of other flora and fauna that prey on unsuspecting mankind. Now there's cockroaches. The stars of this film are about 2,000 roaches who live in a nest (hence, the title) on an island, where intensive commercial development is being headed up by the deadpan acting of Robert Lansing. Frank Luz plays the small-island sheriff who realizes (about a half hour after the audience) that a serious pest problem is hatching. He's a bit slow because Lansing's daughter has recently returned from La City of Angels, and Frank--who hasn't been idle during her absence--now finds himself torn between two lovers. This is good and bad. Good, because love is far less expensive than special effects, so the filmmakers saved some coin here; and bad, because nobody watching gives a hoot. If we're going to have a roach gross out, then, by all means, let's have a roach gross out (the ** rating is for the reasonably gross roach feeding frenzy that occupies the last third of the film, and most of Robert Lansing's body.) Eventually, viewers figure out that a mad scientist (of the female persuasion this time) has bred a new roach strain: a Super Roach, so to speak. These hardy roaches sneer at Raid, and they like to eat meat. Dog meat, cat meat, bad actor's meat; it don't matter. Of course, the good guys blow up the nest, and, of course, the screen fades to black with the two principals kissing (and a lone roach on the loose--signifying a possible sequel.) But if you're in the market for quality gross, we recommend you spend your blood money on Evil Dead II or Re Animator. Not recommended. (Available from most distributors.)