Well, I don't know. Perhaps, in a way, we're being controlled, too, through the actions of these lower life forms, kept harmless, so to speak.
14 seconds sound clip from the The Angry Red Planet movie soundboard.
You can hear this line at 00:45:28 in the Blu-ray version of the movie.
Quote context
[...]
- What are you driving at, Professor?
- Well, I can't help feeling that we're being watched. That there is some purpose behind it all.
- What's the matter, Professor? Your ears twitch, too?
- Now, this quiet, this lack of motion...
- Oh, you still think it's... intentional, controlled.
- What could control all life here?
- It could be some super-intelligent community mind, I suppose.
- I got news for you, Professor. I'll take the ants any day.
- Well, we have four days left to find out.
- Isn't your Earth contact a little late?
- Yeah, it is. Over an hour late.
[...]