Drive-In Dust Offs: THE NEST

Ah, cockroaches. They just don’t get much love in the Horror genre. One would think that these lowly creatures, clicking and flitting, scurrying and shuttling from dark to light would be prime fodder for terror terrain. However, up until 1988’s The Nest, there are only a handful of critter flicks starring these grotesque end- of- the- worlders. Concorde Pictures (Roger Corman’s latest company at the time) unleashed this gloriously gruesome roach-a-rama on an unsuspecting public and watched them squirm with delight.

Actually, The Nest only received a limited release by Concorde, but made its coin when it was released on video by MGM later that same year. Reviews were generally positive, with critics seeing it as a good natured update of 1950’s monster movies, of course with new, improved and gnarly special effects. The Nest is, shall we say, a great deal moister than its bug strewn brethren of yore. These fellas bite.

The story you’ve probably heard before: The island town of North Port is a beautiful seaside resort. Calm, relaxing - a great getaway. However, it seems to be developing a bit of a roach problem. Getting into food, eating the pets, etc. Laid back Sheriff Richard (Frank Luz – Ghost Town) with the help of exterminator Homer (Stephen Davies – The Long Good Friday) tries to get to the bottom of the mutilations, but hasn’t a clue what to do. Mayor Elias (Robert Lansing – Empire of The Ants) is sent the alluring and 80’s coiffed Dr. Morgan (Terri Treas – House IV), a roach specialist and president of the Pat Benatar Fan Club, to assist in discovering why the little buggers are so hungry. Of course, what 50’s throwback would be complete without a love triangle? Sheriff Richard is dating Lillian (Nancy Morgan – Grand Theft Auto), the owner of the local diner, when who should come back to town but Elizabeth (Lisa Langlois – Class of 1984), his high school sweetheart, the mayor’s daughter, and runner up in the Aquanet Olympics.  Will Richard rekindle his flame with Elizabeth? Will he spurn Lillian? Will the cockroaches expire from hairspray exposure? Learn the answers to these and other burning questions in The Nest – or, How I Learned To Stop Worrying And Just Pick The Roaches Out Of My Salad.

After the Slasher boom all but dried up in the mid 80’s, filmmakers turned to tried and true tropes to rejuvenate the genre. Bring back the mad scientists (Re-animator), zombies (Return of The Living Dead) and spit polished remakes (The Fly), put away the hatchets, machetes, and Ginsu knives (everyone else). Nature run amok flicks hadn’t really been in vogue since they infested theatres in the 70’s with such classics as Kingdom of The Spiders, Food of The Gods, and Day of The Animals, but Producer Julie Corman and Concorde aimed to turn that all around with The Nest. While this film turned out to be a one and done proposition, it ultimately helps it stand alone from the genre fare of the day. If you only see one 80’s Horror film about cannibalistic cockroaches, make it The Nest.

The true greatness of this film isn’t its production values, which are professional and very much of their time (see summary: hairspray), nor its setting (lots of seaside towns in the 80’s). The Nest gets over (and under your skin) on enthusiasm, and plenty of it, buster. It’s so in love with the idea of updating a monster movie for the Miami Vice crowd that it plants its feet on the splatter sidewalk and doesn’t move until the credits roll. As I said, these buggers bite, and they’re not shy diners. So what do you get for your money? How about: doggie death, diner destruction, and my personal fave, dumpster dissection. Let’s not forget auto assault and roaches so mutated (see: how to build a better bug in the name of science) that they are able to crossbreed with humans forming a lovely cockroach quilt. The effects work is very effective throughout with the exception of the aforementioned creature, which is so charmingly retro it should have AIP stamped on its forehead.

This was screenwriter Terence H. Winkless’ (The Howling) first film as director, and while he doesn’t think visually, he certainly films viscerally. Winkless has a blast filming the carnage, so any lack of finesse is surpassed by an eagerness to please the gore hounds, a manifesto that writer Robert King (Bloodfist) clearly shares.

The cast seems to enjoy themselves, with a special shout out to Terri Treas as the good Dr. Morgan, who seems to have a kinky sexual connection with the bugs that even Seth Brundle would find weird. Everyone else underplays nicely so as not to upstage any oncoming roach rampages. Kudos all around.

So throw on The Nest when you’re looking for a good old fashioned gory romp. Sit back, grab a cold one, and put your feet up. No really, put your feet up. You never know what’s creeping on the floor.

The Nest is available in a Blu-ray/DVD Combo Pack from Scream Factory.