CHAMPAIGN, lll. – Drawn by the aroma of grilling meat, an angry swarm of genetically modified killer yellowjackets descends on a hamburger cook-off in a small Kansas town. Elsewhere, giant mutant wasps waddle across the African savannah seeking revenge for a cosmic science experiment gone bad. These and other wasp-related horrors will be on view at the annual Insect Fear Film Festival at the University of Illinois on Feb. 26.
The festival will commemorate its 28th year with two main features: “Swarmed,” a 2005 movie about genetically altered, pesticide-resistant killer yellowjackets, and “Monster From Green Hell,” a 1958 horror flick about truck-sized mutant wasps. The night will begin with interactive demonstrations and displays, including an insect petting zoo and exhibits of live and preserved wasps.
The program of movies will include the two feature films and wasp-related animated shorts and will be accompanied by commentaries from entomology department head and festival founder May Berenbaum and from special guest Gordon Yang, the producer of “Swarmed,” which first appeared on Syfy and is licensed by Reel One Entertainment.
Doors will open at 6 p.m. on Saturday, Feb. 26, at Foellinger Auditorium, 709 S. Mathews Ave., Urbana. Films and commentary begin at 7 p.m. For more details visit online.
