Rating summary

Movie		3.5
Video		4.5
Audio		4.5
Extras		5.0
Overall		4.5

Phase IV 4K Blu-ray Movie Review

Reviewed by Brian Orndorf April 4, 2024

In Hollywood history, Saul Bass is a legend. A graphic designer of immense talent, Bass created striking marketing imagery and main title sequences, evolving into a visual consultant, including iconic work on Alfred Hitchcock’s “Psycho.” As a feature-length filmmaker, Bass’s career only lasted for a short amount of time. 1974’s “Phase IV” represents his one and only big screen endeavor, working with screenwriter Mayo Simon on a picture that combines the terror of an animal attack effort with the nebulous sci-fi touches of Stanley Kubrick’s “2001: A Space Odyssey.” “Phase IV” is a stunning visual experience, filled with all sorts of Bass-isms and intense insect cinematography (by Ken Middleham). As a story filled with dread and mystery, the movie is much less successful, with Bass’s slow-burn approach to a rising threat of unknown intent failing to generate much in the way of suspense or even horror.

A mysterious cosmic event has occurred, reaching the ant population of Earth, changing them into an intelligence with some type of plan for the planet. Investigating the situation is Dr. Ernest (Nigel Davenport), who’s created a bunker in Arizona near a collection of unusual ant mounds, aiming to inspect such organization and learn more about the gathering. He’s joined by James (Michael Murphy), an information specialist who’s expecting an easy two weeks of scientific research. However, as time passes, Dr. Ernest grows more obsessed with the ants, soon treating the situation as war as he looks to disrupt their communication. Complicating bunker life is the appearance of Kendra (Lynne Frederick), a teenage survivor from a nearby farm offered refuge with the scientists, learning more about Dr. Ernest’s fixation and the threat of the ants.

Something has happened to the ants in “Phase IV,” and it’s a situation of organization that’s largely enigmatic. The end game for the insects isn’t clear, but they’re not interested in Dr. Ernest’s antagonisms, with the majority of the story following the scientist’s efforts to zero in on colony activities and learn more about their plans to do something with humanity. Outdoor adventures are limited to Kendra’s arc of survival, with the tale primarily focusing on Dr. Ernest and James in the facility, which is filled with computers, allowing them to analyze ant business. Dr. Ernest wants to destroy the insects and James looks to communicate with them via mathematics, with Simon trying to get some dramatic heat going between the men as their disagreements intensify.

The other side of “Phase IV” belongs to the ants, and Bass does an incredible job getting into this micro world, offering extended looks at behavior and scheming, including an insect effort to knock out the air conditioning. The menace of the ants is understood, with purely visual storytelling captivating, generating a sense of unease the rest of the feature struggles to conjure. As Dr. Ernest accepts a “challenge” to outwit the enemy, “Phase IV” gets something going with games of escalation and growing madness, as the scientist is nursing a bite and Kendra is becoming frightened. It’s something to chew on in a picture that’s not always interested in momentum, with Bass after a gradual creep of danger and puzzling with ant objectives.

For additional information and analysis, please read Jeffrey Kauffman’s 2015 Blu-ray review.

Phase IV 4K Blu-ray Movie, Video Quality 

"Phase IV" was previously issued on Blu-ray by Olive Films in 2015, and returns to disc via Vinegar Syndrome, who offer UHD presentation of the theatrical cut, "newly restored from its 35mm original camera negative." The freshness of the image is immediately striking, with heavy, film-like grain and tasteful highlights. Technical achievements are supported throughout the viewing experience, which delivers terrific detail, exploring skin surfaces on human characters, while the world of ants is nicely textured. Bunker interiors preserve depth and decoration, filled with computer equipment. Exteriors are dimensional. Color is secure, with distinct desertscapes and metallic bunker views. Ant activity also carried sharp hues, with glowing greens and yellows. Blacks are deep, preserving ant movement and shape. Source is in good condition, with very mild damage viewed in the final reel.

Phase IV 4K Blu-ray Movie, Audio Quality 

The 2.0 DTS-HD MA mix offers crisp dialogue exchanges, which vary in intensity as argumentative behavior heats up. Scoring handles with clarity, securing the strange electronic sounds of the feature, supporting the mystery of "Phase IV." Sound effects are appreciable with insect movement and bunker events.

Phase IV 4K Blu-ray Movie, Special Features and Extras 

• Booklet (10 pages) contains Saul Bass storyboards.

UHD

• Commentary features film historian Matthew Asprey Gear.

Blu-ray #1

• Commentary features film historian Matthew Asprey Gear.

Blu-ray #2

• "Preview Version" (89:09) is a reconstruction of a cut first shown to test audiences, complete with the original ending. Sound options include the "London Preview Soundtrack" (featuring no narration) and the "California Preview Soundtrack" (which includes narration).

• "Evolutions" (47:46, HD) is the making-of for "Phase IV," featuring interviews with author Pat Kirkham, director Saul Bass (via audio interviews), film archivist Sean Savage, screenwriter Mayo Simon, actor Michael Murphy, and son Jeffrey Bass. Biographical information kicks off the documentary, with Kirkham walking through Saul Bass's early life and initial entry into advertising, creating movie campaigns. With help from connections, Bass eventually made his way to Los Angeles, beginning his efforts to rethink advertisements, explored through work from Otto Preminger, who gave him a shot to create a title sequence. More notable accomplishments followed, including time on "Psycho," and Bass found love with fellow designer Elaine, with the pair co-credited on their achievements. Simon details his working relationship with Bass, going from an Academy Award-winning short to "Phase IV," with the project looking for a higher-minded take on science fiction in a post-"2001" world. Production began in Africa, with Bass working to wrangle ants, collaborating with Mayo to cook up an ominous world for the story. Tales from the shoot are shared, along with post-production woes, with the movie not accepted by the studio or audiences. Changes are analyzed, including the ending, with the original closing montage found around 2010, finally screened for the public and restored for a cut of the movie.

• "Formicidae Sinfonia" (14:51, HD) is an interview with electronic musician David Vorhaus and composer Brian Gascoigne. The men explore their professional relationship and their time with Saul Bass. Musical moods are analyzed, detailing the manufacturing of special sounds in the feature, including the bustle of the ants. Character themes are identified as well. The interviewees conclude with information about the deleted closing montage music, which goes uncredited, but likely remains the work of Desmond Briscoe.

• "Raw Footage" (16:34, HD) collects imagery from the deleted ending of "Phase IV," offering a rough look at the creation of the surreal sequence.

• Deleted Shots and Sequences (1:59, HD) is a brief collection of rough footage from the Preview Version of "Phase IV."

• Image Gallery (1:31) collects poster art, film stills, and BTS snaps.

• And a Theatrical Trailer (2:46, HD) is included.

Phase IV 4K Blu-ray Movie, Overall Score and Recommendation 

"Phase IV" really shines as a cinematic experience, with Bass showing deep love for colors and textures, designing an exploitation movie with A-level filmmaking craft. It's a remarkable feature at times, daring to challenge the audience with a depiction of the unexplainable, playing very much like a sci-fi novel from the era. However, the airlessness of it all doesn't support imagination, as the material's eventual move to a sudden conclusion leaves much to be desired (an extended ending on the Preview Version is arresting, exploding with more Bass-fu, but still frustratingly elusive). "Phase IV" is not a dramatic achievement, as performances aren't always strong enough and relationships are a little too vague (including the connection between James and Kendra), but there's plenty here to appreciate, and there's something thrilling in the way Bass swings for the fences with the project, laboring to manufacture a different kind of brain-bleeding chiller.