Theme: Animals Amok

This refers to films dealing with animals turning on and attacking humanity. This can either occur in terms of individual animal attacks – as in Jaws (1975) – or in terms of a massed attack by an entire species of animal as in The Birds (1963. These works frequently come with an environmentalist theme where animals are seen as being mutated or driven to attack by pollution or in revenge for despoliation of the environment.

For films about animals and insects enlarged to giant size see Giant Animals. For films dealing with the insect kingdom turning against humanity see Bugs. Specific species where depictions are numerous have been spilled over their own themes with Apes and Killer Sharks. For all general rampaging monstrosities see Monster Movies.

For a more detailed overview of the topic read the theme essay Animals Attack Films