Sign In / Sign Up

The Hellstrom Chronicle

The Hellstrom Chronicle
Release date: 1971-05-05
Rating: 6.4
Votes: 33
Genres: Science Fiction, Documentary
A scientist explains how the savagery and efficiency of the insect world could result in their taking over the world.

Reviews

CinemaSerf

CinemaSerf

Right from the start when the opening piece to camera sees "Hellstrom" almost walk into a tree, there's something a little dodgy about the presentation. No, he's not a real scientist. He's an actor called Lawrence Pressmann and he's not delivering his own painfully garnered research, but an hybrid of that of others. That gimmick doesn't really matter, though, as once this docu-drama gets under way, it's turns into a well photographed investigation into just how easily insects could take over from mankind as the dominant species on Earth. The narration is a bit over the top, alarmist, you might even say but the imagery displayed - especially of the close ups of the menacing features so readily fodder for the sci-fi and horror film industries, is quite effective. These creatures morph from the most unlikely and ugly looking entities into the most beautiful; they work and live in massive swarms and hives existing in concert with nature peacefully pollinating whilst at the same time they can wield enormously potent destructive power. They can be hugely loyal and equally cruel - mating then eating your partner always seems a tad brutal to me (however bad it was!). It lingers briefly on the role of plants in managing their ambitions - some Venus fly traps amongst those quite capable of luring and devouring. Essentially, this illustrates that these animals can be poisonous and/or just hungry, exist in ginormous quantities and the thrust of the narrative is that if they were ever to turn their attentions to mankind, then we'd be ill-equipped to fend them off. Just because this is being linked by an actor doesn't make it less fascinating, and this is well worth watching.

Movie Recommendation

  • A Study in Terror
    A Study in Terror
    1965-10-01
    When Watson reads from the newspaper there have been two similar murders near Whitechapel in a few days, Sherlock Holmes' sharp deductive is immediately stimulated to start its merciless method of elimination after observation of every apparently meaningless detail. He guesses right the victims must be street whores, and doesn't need long to work his way trough a pawn shop, an aristocratic family's stately home, a hospital and of course the potential suspects and (even unknowing) witnesses who are the cast of the gradually unraveled story of the murderer and his motive.
    More...
  • The Young Philadelphians
    The Young Philadelphians
    1959-05-21
    Up and coming young lawyer Anthony Lawrence faces several ethical and emotional dilemmas as he climbs the Philadelphia social ladder. His personal and professional skills are tested as he tries to balance the needs of his fiance Joan, the expectations of his colleagues and his own obligation to defend his friend Chester on a murder count.
    More...
  • Money Cat
    Money Cat
    2021-08-13
    When a financially-strapped couple encounters a mysterious Money Cat, one of them touts it as a good luck charm while the other remains a skeptic. They’re both surprised when good fortune seemingly befalls them, but everything comes with a price.
    More...
  • Scooby-Doo's Spookiest Tales
    Scooby-Doo's Spookiest Tales
    2001-08-21
    Zoinks! Get ready to shake and shiver with Scooby-Doo and the Mystery, Inc. gang as they collect clues and capture crooks as only they can! Those teenage super-sleuths have the villains on the run in four mysterious adventures. So grab your Scooby snacks, gather your courage and make like a detective because - jinkies - there's a mystery to solve. Compilation of four episodes from the Scooby-Doo franchise: Vampires, Bats, and Scaredy Cats; A Gaggle of Galloping Ghosts; That's Snow Ghost; and Which Witch is Which.
    More...
  • Barbie: A Fashion Fairytale
    Barbie: A Fashion Fairytale
    2010-09-14
    Barbie, a popular actress on a sabbatical, learns that her fashion designer aunt Millicent has sold her business to a rival. With the help of a few magical beings, Barbie steps in to save the day.
    More...
  • As
    As
    2023-01-01
    Three years after the death of her beloved child, Elouise, Mara still feels her presence when she sits on the butterfly bedding in front of the jar with her ashes in it. Mara arranges a twelfth birthday party for Elouise, further alienating her from her husband, Richter, and remaining daughter, Hannah. Although Mara eventually vacates Elouise's room at the insistence of her husband, she does find a way to stay close to Elouise. Before long, however, Hannah discovers her mother's secret.
    More...
  • Futurama: Into the Wild Green Yonder
    Futurama: Into the Wild Green Yonder
    2009-02-06
    Leela becomes an outlaw when she and a group of ecologically-minded feminists attempt to save an asteroid of primitive life forms and the Violet Dwarf star from being destroyed, while Fry joins a secret society and attempts to stop a mysterious species known as the "Dark Ones" from destroying all life in the universe.
    More...
  • Barbie: A Fairy Secret
    Barbie: A Fairy Secret
    2011-03-01
    Barbie realises that fairies secretly surround everybody. She, along with the help of her friends, Taylor and Carrie, sets out to rescue Ken. He is taken to the secret fairy city, Gloss Angeles.
    More...
  • Main Atal Hoon
    Main Atal Hoon
    2024-01-19
    Statesman and poet Shri Atal Bihari Vajpayee's eloquence and vision shaped India's destiny. A look at his remarkable life as he led his country through a challenging period of change and development as the 10th Prime Minister of India.
    More...
  • Barbie: Fairytopia
    Barbie: Fairytopia
    2005-03-08
    Elina is a flower fairy who discovers that her home of Magic Meadow has been overcome by a horrible malady that is killing the flowers and making the fairies unable to fly. With the help of Bibble, a puffball and a giant butterfly named Hue she attempts to find Azura, a Guardian Fairy. She's challenged along the way by the evil Laverna who wants to usurp the Enchantress, the ruler of Fairytopia.
    More...
  • Darkman II: The Return of Durant
    Darkman II: The Return of Durant
    1995-07-11
    Darkman and Durant return and they hate each other as much as ever. This time, Durant has plans to take over the city's drug trade using high-tech weaponry. Darkman must step in and try to stop Durant once and for all.
    More...
  • g
    g
    No data for this movie
    A disgruntled couple sets on a road trip, as the boyfriend is hiding something mysterious from his girlfriend. The suspicion grows bigger when she begins to fear her boyfriends next move.
    More...
  • Karan Arjun
    Karan Arjun
    1995-01-13
    Karan and Arjun reincarnate in the different parts of the country. But the faith of their previous mother brings them together in order to avenge their death.
    More...
  • Main Tera Hero
    Main Tera Hero
    2014-04-04
    Seenu loves Sunaina but they're chased by a stalking cop, an infatuated beauty and her mafia don dad - can Seenu's heroics work?
    More...
  • Disney Presents: Main Street Electrical Parade - Farewell Season
    Disney Presents: Main Street Electrical Parade - Farewell Season
    1996-11-25
    Catch the spark after dark at Disneyland Park. And say farewell to one of the Magic Kingdom's most celebrated traditions - The Main Street Electrical Parade. Where else, but in The Main Street Electrical Parade, could you see an illuminated 40-foot-long fire-breathing dragon? And hear the energy of its legendary melody one last time? It's unforgettable after-dark magic that will glow in your heart long after the last float has disappeared.
    More...
  • Asterix in Britain
    Asterix in Britain
    1986-12-03
    One little ancient British village still holds out against the Roman invaders. Asterix and Obelix are invited to help. They must face fog, rain, warm beer and boiled boar with mint sauce, but they soon have Governor Encyclopaedius Britannicus's Romans declining and falling. Until a wild race for a barrel of magic potion lands them in the drink.
    More...
  • Main Krishna Hoon
    Main Krishna Hoon
    2013-01-25
    In answer to an orphan boy's prayers, the divine Lord Krishna comes to Earth, befriends the boy, and helps him find a loving family.
    More...
  • Barbie and the Magic of Pegasus
    Barbie and the Magic of Pegasus
    2005-10-04
    Princess Annika escapes the clutches of the evil wizard, explores the wonders of Cloud Kingdom, and teams up with a magnificent winged horse - who turns out to be her sister, Princess Brietta - to defeat the wizard and break the spells that imprisoned her family.
    More...
  • Barbie Presents: Thumbelina
    Barbie Presents: Thumbelina
    2009-02-24
    Meet a tiny girl named Thumbelina who lives in harmony with nature in the magical world of the Twillerbees that's hidden among the wildflowers. At the whim of a spoiled young girl named Makena, Thumbelina and her two friends have their patch of wildflowers uprooted and are transported to a lavish apartment in the city.
    More...

Similar Movies