Producer/director Irwin Allen (The Towering Inferno) now unleashes an end-of-the-world thriller based on scientific fact. In Africa and South America, killer bees are a reality. Now THE SWARM is on the move… into North America! There are enough stars for five movies – Michael Caine, Katharine Ross, Richard Widmark, Olivia de Havilland, Henry Fonda, Fred MacMurray, Richard Chamberlain, Jose Ferrer, Patty Duke Astin, Lee Grant and Bradford Dillman. But the scene-stealers are the supporting cast: an estimated 22-million bees, deftly deployed to depict deadly attacks on people and places. It’s a nightmare that will give you quite a buzz!

For thoughts on The Swarm, please check out our discussion on The Video Attic:

[youtube https://youtu.be/FjQ9S0XiZNo?si=jQ2LSE5QAKKFFsPm&t=1576]

Video Quality

The Swarm was released on Blu-Ray in 2018 courtesy of the Warner Archive in an absolutely gorgeous 1080p transfer derived from a 2K scan of the Interpositive of the film’s Extended Edition. There is a small bit of variance when opticals are utilized given the process of the time, but overall the majority of the runtime allows you to feel almost as if you are watching a modern movie. That’s not to say that the filmic quality is compromised in the least; there is a sumptuous amount of natural grain that yields spectacular detail. Colors pop off the screen with a notable vibrancy that never fails to plaster a smile on your face. Take a look at some of the foliage or elements of the clothing to gain a better appreciation for this transfer. There is no hint of compression artifacts or banding to be found. Warner Archive has really crushed it with this release.

Audio Quality

This Blu-Ray comes with a strong DTS-HD 2.0 Master Audio track that properly preserves the original soundscape without issue. Dialogue is crystal clear without being compromised by sound effects like the swarming bees or the music. The more active moments such as explosions or the movement of large military vehicles create a spacious track that is more nuanced than you might expect. The terrific Jerry Goldsmith score is treated respectfully and balanced well within the mix. This track provides a presentation free of any major blemishes or digital anomalies that would compromise the viewing experience. Optional English SDH subtitles are provided for those who desire them.

Special Features

Inside The Swarm: A pretty cool 22-minute vintage documentary that provides many great interviews with the cast and creative team from the set who discuss the ideas behind the film, working with the bees, safety precautions throughout, questions about how one would survive such an invasion, the work of Irwin Allen, and much more.

Trailer: The two-minute trailer is provided here.

Final Thoughts

The Swarm is another ambitious effort from the great Irwin Allen, but as with all creatives, the project proved the “Master of Disaster” was not infallible. There are elements you can have fun with in a “so bad its good way”, but your patience does start to become a bit thin with this particularly lengthy extended edition. It is great to see Michael Caine, but the issues against this one go far beyond any casting decisions. The practical effects of this one are done well, and enthusiasts of the disaster genre should still check it out themselves. Warner Archive has released a Blu-Ray featuring a lovely A/V presentation and a nice making-of special. You have to go into this one knowing it is likely bad, and perhaps you will be surprised it is as watchable as ends up being.

The Swarm can be purchased directly through MovieZyng or through various other online retailers.

Note: Images presented in this review are not reflective of the image quality of the Blu-Ray.

Disclaimer: Warner Archive has supplied a copy of this disc free of charge for review purposes. All opinions in this review are the honest reactions of the author.