PHASE IV (1974) (Film Review by Evelyn C. Leeper)

[Philip De Parto]

The following commentary is reprinted with permission from:

THE MT VOID
02/06/26 -- Vol. 44, No. 32, Whole Number 2418

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PHASE IV (1974)  (film review by Evelyn C. Leeper)

PHASE IV seems more a way to showcase advances in
macro photography than a fully developed film. The concept is
intriguing, but it is not really developed. As for the characters,
Mark noted that this was one of the few movies in which the
mathematician is *not* the cold, unemotional scientist (while
whatever other scientists there are seem more concerned about how
whatever is happening affects humans). Of the five characters, the
older couple are stereotypical "rugged individualists who aren't
going to let the government push them around", the girl is in
shock for most of the film, and the Andrew Keir
(non-mathematician) scientist is a caricature.

As for the idea that the ants are becoming more intelligent, the
plot seems to assume that they have acquired not just
intelligence, but enough technical knowledge to know, for example,
1) that a printed circuit board is a crucial component, and 2) how
to disable it.

PHASE IV was the only feature film Saul Bass directed. He was best
known for his designs for film title sequences, film posters, and
corporate logos. Of interest to the readers of the MT VOID, given
its origins, is the fact that Bass designed both the final Bell
System logo (still used by Southwestern Bell) and the American
Bell/AT&T logo.

Released theatrically 13 September 1974.

Film Credits:
<https://www.imdb.com/title/tt0070531/reference>

What others are saying:
<https://www.rottentomatoes.com/m/phase_iv_1974>