A movie about blood-sucking parasites. . . if you’re thinking I’m talking about lawyers, you’d be way off track today; Ticks have become creatures that haunt the backs of our minds as we enjoy our outdoor summer activities (fears of Lyme disease and meat allergies run rampant in articles found in newspapers and online), meaning the 1993 direct-to-video cult classic directed by Tony Randel is more pertinent than ever before.
Following a group of lowly teens that are a part of a program run by Holly Lambert (Rosalind Allen) and Charles Danson (Peter Scolari), the shtupping pair bring kids from inner city Los Angeles out into nature as a form of therapy and group bonding (Holly is in charge of the former, while Charles studies the latter). A rather ragtag team, you’ve got an often dizzy (due to being left for days in a forest as a child – this should work out nicely) nerd named Tyler (Seth Green), a knife wielding African American hoodlum monikered ‘Panic’ (Alfonso Ribeiro – very much against type compared to his Carlton character from The Fresh Prince of Bel-Air), Charles’ daughter Melissa (Virginya Keehne) – who isn’t exactly happy with her father’s fling, latino Rome (Ray Oriel) and posh prima donna Dee Dee (Ami Dolenz – daughter of The Monkee’s Micky Dolenz) – they’re a quasi couple, as well as the seemingly mute Kelly (Dina Dayrit). Funnily enough, when they do reach their location, the nature camp somehow looks less inviting than the infamous Crystal Lake found in Friday the 13th.
What these poor saps don’t realize is that they’ve driven right into a rural community that, since the local plant has closed, has turned to illegal marijuana growth to stay afloat. Even worse, a weapon-wielding wacko duo, the simply titled ‘Sir’ (Barry Lynch) and his lackey Jerry (Michael Medeiros), wander the forest protecting their cannabis cash crop. . . it also seems like they’d be way too eager to rape either woman or man – think a slightly more polished threat than in Deliverance. Somehow even worse, another grower, the irreverent Jarvis Tanner (Clint Howard), has developed a potent steroid to help his crops grow both faster and stronger. . . but it has also accidentally evolved the local tick population into super sized and ultra fast predators. Who knew that nature could be more dangerous than inner city gangs and drive-by shootings!
Soon, the teens are being attacked by the worst of man and nature, while Panic runs away in the middle of the night after his dog was devoured by a tick. . . he’s the first to realize the inner city might just be safer than their present location. Further complicating things, a raging local forest fire is encroaching on their getaway. . . but don’t worry, Sheriff Parker (Rance Howard – Clint’s real father) is on the case. . . but, like most police in these types of movies, he’ll be utterly useless. Can the teens use all of this unexpected pressure to group build? Could stomping on super sized ticks be the perfect form of therapy for the hormones pumping through the bodies of these high-schoolers? Or are they doomed to forever have to follow a vegan diet featuring lemons and Lyme?
A surprisingly entertaining, if overly kitschy horror flick (that often brings with it some chuckles), Ticks’ story is generally solid, while its young cast often flourishes, and its low budget practical effects more than impress. Much of its success stems from its camera work – point of view tick shots, pans and zooms that reveal gooey ticks hatching unbeknownst to our protagonists, and suspenseful framing that only adds to the atmosphere. There are also some really progressive visual effects – a Clint Howard scene comes to mind, while the dog autopsy sequence is more than special. In many ways, it harkens us back to the horror films of the 50s – when giant atomic bugs and blobs littered the silver screen. So, feed your summer horror need with this 90s creature feature, it’s a bloody good time.