The Hellstrom Chronicle main backdrop
The Hellstrom Chronicle main poster

The Hellstrom Chronicle

Visit website

6.4/10 • 31

1971-05-051h 30m

Science FictionDocumentary

Shocking. Beautiful. Brilliant. Sensual. Deadly...and in the end, only they will survive.

A scientist explains how the savagery and efficiency of the insect world could result in their taking over the world.

Directors
Ed Spiegel, Walon Green
Editors
John Soh

Top Billed Cast

View Credits
  1. Lawrence Pressman

    Lawrence Pressman

    Dr. Nils Hellstrom

Reviews1

View Reviews
CinemaSerf Avatar

CinemaSerf

Mar 31, 2024

7/10

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.

Media

  • The Hellstrom Chronicle poster
  • The Hellstrom Chronicle poster

Recommendations

  • Johann Mouse main backdrop

    Johann Mouse

    6.8

  • No Backdrop

    Meat Friend

    7.0

  • Firebringer main backdrop

    Firebringer

    7.9

  • Naruto the Movie: Guardians of the Crescent Moon Kingdom main backdrop

    Naruto the Movie: Guardians of the Crescent Moon Kingdom

    7.0

  • Furious 7 main backdrop

    Furious 7

    7.2

  • God's Not Dead 2 main backdrop

    God's Not Dead 2

    6.1

  • No Backdrop

    Test

    7.8

  • StreetDance 2 main backdrop

    StreetDance 2

    6.2

  • The Gendarme and the Creatures from Outer Space main backdrop

    The Gendarme and the Creatures from Outer Space

    6.1

  • No Backdrop

    Back to Hannibal: The Return of Tom Sawyer and Huckleberry Finn

    6.1

  • Naruto the Movie: Legend of the Stone of Gelel main backdrop

    Naruto the Movie: Legend of the Stone of Gelel

    6.7

  • Taxi main backdrop

    Taxi

    6.4

  • The Man with the Iron Fists main backdrop

    The Man with the Iron Fists

    5.5

  • Dragon Ball Z: Broly - Second Coming main backdrop

    Dragon Ball Z: Broly - Second Coming

    6.7

  • No Backdrop

    Test

    8.1

  • Planes: Fire & Rescue main backdrop

    Planes: Fire & Rescue

    6.2

  • Serial Teachers 2 main backdrop

    Serial Teachers 2

    5.3

  • Panic in the Mailroom main backdrop

    Panic in the Mailroom

    6.7

  • No Backdrop

    The Brady Girls Get Married

    5.1

  • LEGO Scooby-Doo! Haunted Hollywood main backdrop

    LEGO Scooby-Doo! Haunted Hollywood

    7.3

Status
Released
Original Language
English
Budget
--
Revenue
--
Keywords
insectspiderscientistanimalsnatureevolution