Insect (2018)
Jan Švankmajer's final surrealist feature blends live-action theatre with dark animation, staging humanity's worst impulses through the world of insects.
Insect - Movie Information
- Original Title: Hmyz
- Release Year: 2018
- Directed by: Jan Švankmajer
- Type: Movie
- Genres: Comedy, Drama, Animation
- Runtime: 1h 38m
- Original Language: Czech
- Spoken Languages: Czech
- Release Date (Theatrical): February 19, 2018 (Czech Republic - 18+)
- Alternative Titles: Insects (CZ), 人間變蟲記 (TW)
- Production Companies: ATHANOR, PubRes, Česká televize
- Production Countries: Czech Republic, Slovakia
Insect - Plot
The Dung Beetle is late, the Parasite is asleep and Mrs Larva is more interested in her knitting than the director's instructions. It's clear: this amateur theatre company has a long way to go before they can perform their version of "The Insect Play", a famous satirical work from 1922 by the brothers Karel and Josef Čapek which features insects with decidedly human traits: greed, egocentrism, jealousy.
Insect - Trailer
Watch the official trailer and get a glimpse of Švankmajer's unsettling insect world:
Where to Watch Insect
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Insect - Cast & Crew
Director(s)
- Jan Švankmajer
Main Cast
- Jan Budař
- Jiří Lábus
- Norbert Lichý
- Jaromír Dulava
- Kamila Magálová
- Ivana Uhlířová
- Pavel Nový
Writers
- Jan Švankmajer
Producers
- Jaromír Kallista
Insect - FAQs
Is Insect Jan Švankmajer's final film?
Yes, Insect (2018) is widely regarded as Jan Švankmajer's final feature film. The legendary Czech surrealist director announced his retirement from filmmaking after completing this project, making it the culmination of a career spanning more than five decades of avant-garde cinema.
What is Insect (2018) based on?
Insect is loosely based on "The Insect Play" (Ze života hmyzu), a celebrated 1922 satirical comedy by Czech brothers Karel and Josef Čapek. The original play uses insect characters — beetles, butterflies, parasites, and ants — as allegories for human vices including greed, vanity, and egocentrism.
Where can you watch Insect (2018)?
Insect (2018) is available to stream or rent on select platforms in the US. You can check current availability across streaming services, digital rental, and purchase options by visiting JustWatch, which tracks real-time platform listings for the film in your region.
Who are the main actors in Insect?
The principal cast of Insect includes Jan Budař as Václav, Jiří Lábus as the Dung Beetle, Norbert Lichý as the Parasite, Jaromír Dulava as Mr. Cricket, Kamila Magálová as Mrs. Cricket, Ivana Uhlířová as the Larva, and Pavel Nový in a supporting role.
What genre is Insect (2018)?
Insect is a dark comedy blending live-action drama with Švankmajer's signature stop-motion animation. It sits at the intersection of surrealist theatre, satirical comedy, and experimental animation — a genre-defying work that resists easy classification and rewards patient, adventurous viewers.
How long is the film Insect (2018)?
Insect has a runtime of 98 minutes (1 hour and 38 minutes). The film was released in the Czech Republic on February 19, 2018, with an 18+ age classification, reflecting its mature satirical themes and Švankmajer's characteristically unsettling visual style.
How was Insect (2018) received by critics?
Insect received a mixed-to-positive critical reception, praised primarily by admirers of Švankmajer's surrealist body of work. Critics appreciated its theatrical ambition and the director's uncompromising vision, though some found its deliberately chaotic structure and meta-theatrical layers challenging for general audiences.
What language is Insect (2018) in?
Insect is filmed entirely in Czech, the original language of both the director and the source material. The film is a Czech-Slovak co-production, produced by ATHANOR, PubRes, and Česká televize, and is typically screened internationally with subtitles.
More About Insect
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