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poster of Arachnophobia
Rating: 6.4/10 by 1370 users

Arachnophobia (1990)

A large spider from the jungles of South America is accidentally transported in a crate with a dead body to America where it mates with a local spider. Soon after, the residents of a small California town disappear as the result of spider bites from the deadly spider offspring. It's up to a couple of doctors with the help of an insect exterminator to annihilate these eight legged freaks.

Directing:
  • Frank Marshall
  • Bruce Cohen
  • David D'Ovidio
  • Julie Pitkanen
Writing:
  • Don Jakoby
  • Wesley Strick
  • Don Jakoby
  • Al Williams
Stars:
Release Date: Fri, Jul 20, 1990

Rating: 6.4/10 by 1370 users

Alternative Title:
Arachnophobie - FR
Aracnofobia - ES
Imse Vimse Spindel - SE
Aracnofobia - BR
Aracnofobia - SV
Aracnofobia - MX

Country:
United States of America
Language:
English
Español
Runtime: 01 hour 49 minutes
Budget: $31,000,000
Revenue: $53,200,000

Plot Keyword: small town, spider, animal attack, outbreak, creature, exterminator, spider bite, creature feature, spider queen, invasive species, arachnophobia, animal horror, spider general
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Jeff Daniels
Ross Jennings
Harley Jane Kozak
Molly Jennings
John Goodman
Delbert McClintock
Julian Sands
Dr. James Atherton
Brian McNamara
Chris Collins
Stuart Pankin
Sheriff Parsons
Henry Jones
Dr. Sam Metcalf
Peter Jason
Henry Beechwood
Mark L. Taylor
Jerry Manley
James Handy
Milton Briggs
Kathy Kinney
Blaire Kendall
Mary Carver
Margaret Hollins
Marlene Katz
Shelley Jennings
Jane Marla Robbins
Edna Beechwood
Theo Schwartz
Bunny Beechwood
Cori Wellins
Becky Beechwood
Chance Boyer
Bobby Beechwood
Frances Bay
Evelyn Metcalf
Lois de Banzie
Henrietta Manley
Warren Rice
Dick Manley
Michael Steve Jones
Irv's Assistant
Fiona Walsh
Little Girl
Juan Fernández
Miguel Higueras (uncredited)

John Chard

The itsy-bitsy spider crawled up the water spout; down came the rain and washed the spider out. When a photographer is bitten and killed by a spider in the Venezuelan jungle, his body is shipped back to his home town of Canaima in California. Unfortunately something has hitched a ride in his coffin... Mixing "B" movie conventions with a modern day fun sensibility, Arachnophobia sees Frank Marshall direct and Jeff Daniels, Julian Sands, John Goodman and Harley Jane Kozak line up in the cast. Though horror and comedy on the surface doesn't seem to be a that hard to blend together, it's actually surprising over the years just how few horror comedy movies can claim to be successful, and crucially, have been able to to win over a like minded audience. In fact, if we move away from the likes of "Sean Of The Dead", the "B" movie creature feature, especially in modern times, has few offerings of worth. We can certainly mention the awesome (and best of the modern bunch) "Tremors", which turned a small Worldwide profit, and then we turn to "Lake Placid" and "Arachnophobia". Both of the latter made considerable amounts of cash (for the genre) and are propelled by a degree of star wattage. What was in Arachnophobia's favour was that spiders strike the fear of god into many people, thus, as director Marshall said himself on the publicity junket, "People like to be scared but still laughing at the same time". Arachnophobia achieves this in spades, mixing real spiders (the Avondale breed) with model and magnet work, where the effect achieved is full on nervy giggles coupled with some creepy goose flesh also putting in an appearance. The cast work hard to make it work. OK, Sands remains as wooden as he always is, but in this case his pompous bug professor actually calls for it. Daniels as the modern doctor hoping to start a new life in the country, is an excellent lead, a fine actor who's no show on the "A" list of Hollywood remains an utter mystery. However, it's with the big jolly blunderbuss that is John Goodman where the pic gets its frothy "B" movie fun. His inept, half witted but knowing pest controller, Delbert, engages in that small town Americana way. He is an innocent to the terrors of the world and that makes for a nice play off with the Arachnophobic Dr. Ross Jennings (Daniels). Nicely shot around Cambria, California, to fully realise the small town under arachnid siege, Arachnaphobia is the perfect comedy creeper for all the family to enjoy. So squirm and giggle together and watch out for any creepy crawlies in the corners of your home... 7/10


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