Killer Bees (1974)

Sorry, this movie sucks

People are voting emotionally.

When a movie has you begging for it to end not even half way through it's pure crap. We've all seen this movie and this characters millions of times, nothing new in it. Don't waste your time.

A terrific literary drama and character piece that shows how the process of creating art can be seen differently by those doing it and those looking at it from the outside.

Killer Bees (1974) ** (out of 4) Edward van Bohlen (Edward Albert) brings his friend Victoria (Kate Jackson) back to his family estate years after leaving them behind. Before long the friend begins to realize that some local deaths might have been caused by the bees that Madame Maria von Bohlen (Gloria Swanson) has been raising.KILLER BEES is another made-for-television horror film from director Curtis Harrington but sadly it's not one of his best. I guess you really can't blame him too much because there really hasn't been a good film dealing with killer bees. you can watch THE DEADLY BEES, THE BEES or even THE SWARM and you'll see that they're all pretty bad in their own way. This film here at least has a couple good performances but sadly there's just not enough going on throughout the 73-minute running time.The biggest problem with the film is the fact that it's basically a lot of family drama and too much talking. I lost count of how many scenes had Edward talking about leaving his family and the friend talking about how they must discover the truth. There's just way too much boring melodrama here and none of it really has anything to do with the main plot. There are a couple bee attacks but they're not very good as the special effects are certainly lacking.The one saving grace were the actors. Both Albert and Jackson were good in their roles as was Roger Davis in his role as the family doctor. Then you've got the legend Swanson. I'm not going to say she gave a good performance but it was at least an entertaining one as she certainly sold the role with a somewhat over-the-top performance.

The invasion of a community by a swarm of deadly bees was, for a time, a popular commodity in genre cinema: this was preceded by Freddie Francis' THE DEADLY BEES (1966) and followed by THE SAVAGE BEES (1976; TV), its sequel TERROR OUT OF THE SKY (1978; TV) and Irwin Allen's inflated all-star fiasco THE SWARM (1978). Frankly, I never understood this situation's appeal, as the sight of people fleeing for their lives from badly-processed insects (as in the film under review) was always prone to elicit laughter as opposed to the intended terror! Anyway, here we get the added – but equally dubious – treat of having the leading family of the locale (after whom it is named!) as the bees' keepers…or, rather as one of them opines, it is the other way round! In fact, matriarch Gloria Swanson (in her much-publicized TV debut) is constantly surrounded by them – until it is time to pass the baton to another, younger woman and, since her direct relations all happen to be male, her successor ends up being one of their number's girlfriend (played by Kate Jackson, later one of TV's CHARLIE'S ANGELS)! Still, the fact that the reason behind the African killer bees' mass migration to the U.S. – apart from the declaration that their particular honey gives the "Van Bohlen" wine an extra sweet taste! – is never properly delineated hurts the overall effort (to say nothing of its credibility quotient).

KILLER BEES is usually mainly remembered for being one of the last roles of film legend Gloria Swanson's career (although she remained very much in the public eye long afterward and did not pass away until 1983). Swanson aficionados may be disappointed on first viewing that hers is a showy but decidedly supporting role in a film dominated by the young Kate Jackson but it's a memorable performance.Kate Jackson and Edward Albert are a young San Francisco couple living together while he is in college. Jackson talks Albert into bringing her to visit his mysterious family estate - which he hasn't been to for a few years - in California's vineyard country. Jackson learns the Van Bohlens are an extremely reclusive lot who don't like visitors and besides the vineyards raise a rather ominous bunch of bees, some of whom just so happened to have killed a trespasser on the estate the same day as the couple's arrival. Jackson attempts at warmth toward Albert's father (Craig Stevens) and brothers are coolly rebuffed and then there's his imposing immigrant grandmother Gloria Swanson who is literally the queen bee, not only of the family but creepy little buzzers that are all over the place. The question is does this family control the killer bees or is it the other way around? Somewhat reminiscent of Hitchcock's THE BIRDS, KILLER BEES is an effective if uneven suspense horror, it's main problem being an obviously rushed production leading to a few less than smooth takes and a few weak performances among some of the supporting players (even among the extras many of whom seem only mildly interested as the threatening bees begin to engulf the church were funeral services are being held). Jackson is quite good in this and Edward Albert even better. Albert, handsome but with an bit of an odd vibe about him despite being a "good guy", is very well cast. Craig Stevens and Roger Davis don't have that much to do but give an air of chilly menace and certainly Miss Swanson gives her all to this imposing matriarch and creates a memorably Gothic character. There are several very well staged suspenseful scenes, notably the funeral (effective despite the extras) and particularly the climax as the bees take over the house while Jackson is home alone and Swanson's interactions with the bees (whom are like pets to her) are superbly filmed. Definitely worth seeking out if one has interest in the genre or cast.

Me and my third cousin Louis recently had a KILLER BEE movie night! It was amazing! We watched 4 bee movies in one night! It was UN-BEE-LEIVABLE! In all seriousness, Killer Bees should not be laughed at. This movie is a terrifying glimpse into the horrifying reality of the oncoming Killer Bee swarm making it's way here from Africa.The film show-cases two power-house performances, one by the inimitable Gloria Swanson (who, IMHO out-does her cheesy over-the-top performance in Billy Wilder's over-rated SUNSET BOULEVARD)...and the 2nd by......THE BEES! The special effects wizards behind this wondrous vehicle of movie magic should be lauded and made kings of a small third world country for their glorious efforts on this terrifying thrill-ride. I was scared to leave my house for several days after the viewing of this film, I thought the bees were that realistic! The only downside to this is some embarrassing 1974-era haircuts. Thank God I was just a baby back then! 10 out of 10 for this great film. Take it from me, Dan "The Movie Man" Wolfson!!!!!