Arachnophobia Review

Spiders, who really likes them? Fairly enough, they are natural creatures. But then there's the media who portrays them to be evil, merciless predators that will devour their victims without hesitation. Case in point, the film Arachnophobia.

What is apparently a comedy horror, Arachnophobia tells the story of a South American spider following the body of one of its victims all the way to America, breeding with other spiders and eventually creating an army that proceeds to kill people. Jeff Daniels plays the spider-fearing Dr. Ross Jennings who has just moved into the newly infested town with his family.

This is perhaps where the comedy element plays in, due to the fact that when Jennings comes in to take over the practise of the town's old doctor, Sam Metcalf (Henry Jones), almost everyone in town shuns him because he invokes the dreaded "c" word upon them: change. It is hilarious at how this town practically worships this doctor and treats the new guy like he's the scum of the earth.

In the film, Jennings and others begin to investigate the series of murders and put the pieces together. Joining them is John Goodman as the eccentric, bad to the bone exterminator Delbert Mclintok. Every scene of him will leave the audience laughing at how over-the-top he takes his work.



The terror aspect of the spiders throughout the movie is one that truly does play with your fears. Speaking as someone with arachnophobia, it is most definite that these filmmakers pass few opportunities to make these spiders more terrifying then they are. The usage of shadows, close-ups and simply "strength in numbers" will leave the audience cringing with fear.

With the film's comedy aspect also comes what you are bound to realize halfway through, that these spiders are almost superhuman in endurance, stealthy and practically strategic masterminds. Several occasions will leave you wondering where they even came from. That's what provides the movie's almost "B" Horror movie type to it, turning these animals into aggressive monsters.

The visual effects are cheesy, but since the film is from the 1990s it can be expected as such. The filmmakers work with what they can, but there will be notable times where you will know when somebody is trying to fool you. For the most part, the odd chuckle will satisfy but it's not a film that will make someone overall terrified and/or laughing with hysteria. It has a number of shining qualities to it and enough gross scenes that will keep the viewers wondering whether they should do some dusting when the film is over.

-Braydon K