By-TorX-1 Locusts: The 8th Plague is really, really bad. Now, many of these CGI-laden creature/disaster films have a goofy charm and are endearingly awful, but Locusts: The 8th Plague is simply spirit-sappingly dreadful. The plot is formulaic and there is no energy in any of the performances (but given the script, I can't say that I could find the strength or will to pull out top-drawer thesping, so they all have my sympathies and I give them the courtesy of remaining unnamed within this missive). Of course, one does not watch a film like Locusts: The 8th Plague for the actors, but the dread and thrilling insect threat, and so, do the winged fiends deliver? No, they do not. For the most part, the locusts are just indistinct shapes flitting across the screen, or rubbery insect carcasses lying about (or splattered ones on various windshields). Furthermore, the swarm is not that immense, yet the winged critters still have the power to send their victims flying in the air when only a handful crash into them. In this regard, they seem to be jet-propelled. Now, this could be a further element of their DNA tinkering, but that is probably giving the film a degree of inventiveness that it does not possess. In terms of action, when the team seek and (easily) find the elusive locust nest, the fact that they have brought guns and not enough flamethrowers makes one doubt their professional qualifications. For instance, the lead character, Vicky, bravely goes into the locusts' lair armed with only a pistol. Now, I'm no locust-busting expert, but I strongly suspect that a handgun is not going to be very effective against a horde of flesh-eating locust (loci?), and you would think that one of the intrepid crew would point this out. As for set-pieces, well, there is a fairground attack, but it raises more laughs than terror. However, there is Catatonic Boy, and Catatonic Boy will stir your emotions (it might only (probably) be your mirth centre, though), and one must not forget the Old Testament proselytising Preacher, whose biblical warnings of apocalyptic doom still continue as he becomes a locust banquet. Now that's dedication to the Lord! In terms of visuals, the CGI is really poor (the titular locusts, and especially the laughable helicopters in flight), and our hero, Colt, is not the most commanding figure that I have ever seen in such movies (where is Doug McClure when you need him?). Finally, the solution to the aerial menace is something that the nefarious creators of the mutated schistocerca gregaria could have figured out and executed themselves, and thus saved a lot of shredding time (and, of course, the numerous bodies feasted upon by the voracious and gregarious short-horned grasshoppers). So, while some bad movies deliver a myriad of pleasures, this one is just a pest.

movieman_kev Deep in rural Idaho, a swarm of genetically-enhanced Locusts escape from the government lab that they're being held in to wreck havoc on and eat the skin of pretty much everything they come across. It's up to local organic pesticide inventor Colt (Dan Cortese AKA: Dan Dan the Whopper Man Aka: Tony the Mimbo) and his girlfriend, Vicky (Dexter's Julie Benz, who should've known better) to find a way to take care of this '8th Plaque' Filled to the brim with extremely hokey CGI (locust, blood, helicopters & even fire) and not much else, this is definitely not one of the better Sci-Fi Original films (I outright refuse to use the word 'SyFy') that I've seen by a long shot. The acting is bad all the way around, a very unconvincing story, and the fact that the film goes on too long all combine to make a rather unpleasant viewing experience for anyone, like myself, gullible enough to sit through it. David Keith should have been a Lord of Discipline and said no to his role in the film as both he and Jeff Fahey embarrass themselves here.My Grade: D- Image Entertainment DVD Extras: 3 short (and rather lame) 'before & after' special effects shots

Sam Gyseman This movie contains some of the worst acting, most over-used cheap CGI and most unrealistic props I have ever seen in a modern movie. What a load of schlocky tripe! I laughed out loud when the leading lady spun on her heel, pointed at the head anti-locust team and said "There's got to be another way!" in the most B-Movie way ever. The poor CGI of the helicopters was so obvious that it became quickly obvious how cheaply this film had been made. Even the flame-throwers and explosions were computer effects! Maybe the whole of the budget was spent on building the locusts and throwing them about to look like they were dead.As for plot holes, this had more gaps than a hill-billy's teeth. The last ditch trigger of the bomb, for example. Firstly the swarm of six-inch bugs interferes with the radio when you could have driven a tank between each bug. Then the counter stops, presumably a bug switched it off, so the bad guy has to go in and set the bomb off, heroically sacrificing himself in retribution for his greed, etc etc. Why not use a hard-wired bomb? Sheesh...I am amazed that some quality actors gave up their time to be in such a movie. If I was that hard up, I'd consider selling Pepsi before being in this kind of trash. If you're having a drunken weekend watching horror movies and eating popcorn, put this on first!

Michael O'Keefe A SciFi Channel Original albeit between mediocre and mad. A big corporation tampers with genetics and creates a killer strain of locusts intended to protect corn fields from other insects. Unfortunately, following a test the swarm of hungry locusts escape their controlled environment and are loose to terrorize the vicinity of Prairie Idaho. In spite of a conjured cover-up and the National Guard being called to duty; a young scientist(Julie Benz)and her boyfriend(Dan Cortese)watch her father(Jeff Fahey)and his flesh-eating locusts die in a fiery explosion.Poor CGI has the locusts changing size and color. David Keith plays a ruthless, greedy villain. Also in the cast are Kirk B.R. Woller and Manana Stavnsieve. I have a feeling that Fahey and Keith took the money and ran immediately after walking through their roles. My favorite scene happens to be when the deadly swarm attacks an amusement park. I doubt if this film could be any better; but has the potential of being a whole lot worse.