An earthquake releases a strain of mutant cockroaches with the ability to start fires, which proceed to cause destructive chaos in a small town. The studies carried out by scientist James Parmiter, however, reveal an intent with much more...
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Director:
Writers:
Awards:
- 1 win & 1 nomination.
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Photos and Videos
Complete, Cast awaiting verification
| Bradford Dillman | ... |
James Parmiter
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| Joanna Miles | ... |
Carrie Parmiter
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| Richard Gilliland | ... |
Gerald Metbaum
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| Jamie Smith-Jackson | ... |
Norma Tacker
(as Jamie Smith Jackson)
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| Alan Fudge | ... |
Mark Ross
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| Jesse Vint | ... |
Tom Tacker
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| Patty McCormack | ... |
Sylvia Ross
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| Brendan Dillon | ... |
Charlie
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| Frederic Downs | ... |
Henry Tacker
(as Fred Downs)
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| James Greene | ... |
Reverend Kern
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Jim Poyner | ... |
Kenny Tacker
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Sam Javis | ... |
Taxi Driver
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Bard Stevens | ... |
Security Guard
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| Rest of cast listed alphabetically: | |||
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Georgie Castle | ... |
Student (uncredited)
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| William Castle | ... |
(uncredited)
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Karoly Fogassy | ... |
Preacher at Funeral (uncredited)
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Directed by
| Jeannot Szwarc | ||
Written by
| Thomas Page | ... | (novel "The Hephaestus Plague") |
| William Castle | ... | (screenplay) and |
| Thomas Page | ... | (screenplay) |
Produced by
| William Castle | ... | producer |
Music by
| Charles Fox | ||
Cinematography by
| Michel Hugo | ... | director of photography |
Editing by
| Allan Jacobs | ||
Editorial Department
| Dennis Wooley | ... | assistant film editor |
Casting By
| Ramsay King | ||
Art Direction by
| Jack Martin Smith | ||
Set Decoration by
| Reg Allen | ||
Makeup Department
| Judith A. Cory | ... | hair stylist (as Judy Alexander) |
| Tom Miller | ... | makeup artist (as Tom Miller Jr.) |
Second Unit Director or Assistant Director
| Leslie Moulton | ... | second assistant director |
| Jack Roe | ... | assistant director |
Art Department
| Allan Gordon | ... | property master |
| James F. Claytor Sr. | ... | set designer (uncredited) |
| Wally Graham | ... | construction coordinator (uncredited) |
| Rick Simpson | ... | leadman (uncredited) |
| John Zemansky | ... | assistant props (uncredited) |
Sound Department
| Jerry Jost | ... | production sound mixer |
| John Wilkinson | ... | re-recording mixer |
| Joseph Kite | ... | boom operator (uncredited) |
Special Effects by
| Phil Cory | ... | special effects |
| Walter Dion | ... | special effects (uncredited) |
| Karoly Fogassy | ... | special effects (uncredited) |
Camera and Electrical Department
| Ken John Borland | ... | key grip (as Ken Borland) |
| Larry Gilhooly | ... | gaffer |
| Herb Pearl | ... | camera operator |
| Gilbert Thevenaz | ... | assistant camera (as Gil Thevenaz) |
| Jack Gereghty | ... | still photographer (uncredited) |
| Bill Glascock | ... | electrician (uncredited) |
| Ken Johnson | ... | best boy grip (uncredited) |
| Gene Luce | ... | second assistant camera (uncredited) |
| Joel Stout | ... | best boy (uncredited) |
| Jack Vogel | ... | crab dolly operator (uncredited) |
| Gary R. Wostak | ... | electrician (uncredited) |
Casting Department
| Joyce Irving | ... | casting secretary (uncredited) |
Costume and Wardrobe Department
| Guy C. Verhille | ... | wardrobe (as Guy Verhille) |
Music Department
| Charles Fox | ... | composer: electronic music |
Script and Continuity Department
| Cynnie Troup | ... | script supervisor |
Transportation Department
| Stewart Satterfield | ... | transportation (uncredited) |
Additional Crew
| Steve Bickel | ... | assistant to producer |
| Ken Middleham | ... | director: insect sequences |
| Marge Pinns | ... | assistant to producer |
| Vern Debord | ... | animal trainer (uncredited) |
| Lou Feldman | ... | craft service (uncredited) |
| Don Henry | ... | production auditor (uncredited) |
| Stevie Scott | ... | animal trainer (uncredited) |
| Bob Yeager | ... | unit publicist (uncredited) |
Production Companies
Distributors
- Paramount Pictures (1975) (United States) (theatrical)
- Cinema International Corporation (CIC) (1975) (United Kingdom) (theatrical)
- Cinema International Corporation (CIC) (1975) (Sweden) (theatrical)
- Paramount Pictures (1977) (Mexico) (theatrical)
- Cinema International Corporation (CIC) (1976) (West Germany) (theatrical)
- Filmes Lusomundo (1978) (Portugal) (theatrical)
- CBS (1978) (United States) (tv) (original airing)
- CIC Video (West Germany) (VHS)
- Paramount Home Entertainment (1988) (United States) (VHS)
- Paramount Home Entertainment (2004) (United States) (DVD)
- Scream Factory (2020) (United States) (Blu-ray)
- Video MPA (Canada) (VHS) (French)
Special Effects
Other Companies
- Modern Film Effects (titles)
- Panavision (camera equipment provided by)
Storyline
| Plot Summary |
An earthquake releases a strain of mutant cockroaches with the ability to start fires, which proceed to cause destructive chaos in a small town. The studies carried out by scientist James Parmiter, however, reveal an intent with much more far-reaching consequences.
Written by Ross Horsley |
| Plot Keywords | |
| Taglines | They Look Like Rocks...Possess A High Intelligence...Have No Eyes...And Eat Ashes...They Travel In Your Car Exhaust...They Make Fire...They Kill. See more » |
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| Parents Guide | View content advisory » |
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Additional Details
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Box Office
| Cumulative Worldwide Gross | $186,447 |
Did You Know?
| Trivia | The set used for the Parmiter home, (where Joanna Miles's character has her head set ablaze by a "bug"), was the same set at Paramount Studios in Hollywood as the one used for the interiors of the Brady home in the ABC television series, The Brady Bunch (1969). Due to very poor ratings, being massacred by Sanford and Son (1972), the series had been canceled in 1974, a few months before filming on this film began. Since this film's release in 1975, "The Brady Bunch" became a ubiquitous hit in syndication, and the set has become easily recognizable to several generations of classic TV watchers, even though the set was altered for use in this film. See more » |
| Goofs | When Parmiter finds the dead body in the shed its still daylight. He then runs into the house and is in there no longer than a minute and when he emerges its pitch black. See more » |
| Movie Connections | Featured in Terror in the Aisles (1984). See more » |