Sandwiched somewhere between the British production of THE DEADLY BEES and the big budget disaster flick THE SWARM comes THE SAVAGE BEES, a rather typical US television version of a familiar story. The template is very much JAWS here, with disbelieving authorities proving as much of a threat as the buzzing beasties themselves. Western star Ben Johnson plays the sheriff, assisted by Tarantino regular Michael Parks and one of the Magnificent Seven, Horst Buccholz, as a Brazilian bee expert! The film's shot running time means that it doesn't get a chance to outstay its welcome, especially when the last half hour is taken up by a tense set-piece with the bees swarming over a Volkswagen (they hate the colour red apparently), which reminded me a bit of CUJO. The film was directed by Bruce Geller, the man who created the MISSION IMPOSSIBLE TV show, shortly before he died in a light plane crash in 1978. It's dated but fun, and currently available on Youtube.
Review of The Savage Bees
