REVIEW: Arachnophobia (Released in 1990) [30th Anniversary]

DIRECTOR: Frank Marshall

PRODUCERS: Kathleen Kennedy & Richard Vane

WRITERS: Don Jakoby & Wesley Strick & Al Williams

PERFORMERS: Jeff Daniels Julian Sands Harley Jane-Kozak Brian McNamara Stuart Pankin

and John Goodman

I first saw this film on television, yes the edited version and it scared the living daylights out of me! Spiders are known to be one of the most feared insects in the world and there's a reason for it. But when you're dealing with a Venezuelan spider with eight legs, two fangs and an attitude, it's a different ballgame. In this particular Amblin classic, it's hard to believe that something like this can go forgotten and ignored by popular culture... from what I've seen anyway. Barely anyone talks about this film, but I remember it like it were yesterday. Now that it's 30 years old, it's safe to say that Arachnophobia is one of the most scariest and freakish films I have ever seen and it jump started the ultimate fear of insects for years to come.

When I was just in high school, I heard of this film through channel surfing and then I thought 'hmm' and at the same time 'yikes'. So I saw it and little did I know what I was in for let alone getting myself into. The film tells the story of a deadly spider from the jungles of Venezuela, shipped to a small U.S. town where a killer population of the eight legged crawlers is produced and begins to attack that town killing several residents after another. Honestly, who had ever heard of spiders like that? You had other fictional characters like Spider-Man or Spider-Woman and Charlotte from 'Charlotte's Web' but then this came along and changed the rules and the way spiders are looked at and approached. First of all, I've never even been to Venezuela, first of all, and I am familiar with spiders because just like the Jeff Daniels character, I have a fear of spiders myself (one that's gone down since growing up into the man I am today). But if I were ever in his situation, God knows what I would do or feel. Daniels' performance however was quite an interesting feat to this film. I was also surprised to see him, least of all people doing a Steven Spielberg produced film. But playing the lead hero in this was fascinating to look at, you're not used to seeing him in roles like that or films like this, but you still get a fresh portrayal of a man who learns to overcome his phobia and save the small town including his family. Everybody else did good on their parts just as well also, especially John Goodman who plays the town exterminator at a high level of comedic timing and seriousness when he needed to be. Steals every scene he's in and every moment he captures is worth the viewing. Considering his past collaboration with Spielberg on the romantic drama 'Always', it's easy to see where he gets it in this one.

Another thing that struck me the most about this film was it's Spielberg-like feel it had: exciting, thrilling and edge of your seat like moments. Yet still retaining that touch of magic it had on people when first released in 1990. This was probably perhaps the first thriller in the Amblin canon since Poltergeist or Jaws for that matter to get a grip on people and keep them on the edge of their seats while holding their breaths without missing a beat. Whenever that spider was near or present, you had this feeling of cringe and col shiver running down your spine and it was just so terrifying to think of. Like when the insect crawls along it's first victim and kills him, watching the victim die slowly and gruesomely is just so eerie to look at. Then you see a glimpse of the remains after him inside the coffin make it to town... out of this world disgusting!!! Then there's one near the end where the Julian Sands character gets bitten by the spider and is found hanging dead in the barn cover in webs and baby killer spiders crawling all over him! So disturbing and frightening you may never look at another barn the same way again. You side with Goodman's reaction to that when he sees what happened and you think: 'what kind of insects are these things?!' In a way, this was just like a blend between Jaws and a 'Tales from the Crypt' episode, but only in the style of 'Charlotte's Web' as if it were a horror version of that and there was no pig or other talking animals involved or anything like that. Just a group of human beings and natural born killer insects out to overrun a small town's population... Go figure!

Never did I think that Spielberg could do something as frightening and scary as this, while some called it nasty, I called it exciting and creepy. Though he didn't direct it, he certainly made sure it was in good hands. Frank Marshal makes his directing debut in this, as he has served under Spielberg for many years under other films as producer for Spielberg... the Indiana Jones films, all the other Amblin titles under the prestigious brand. That is very impressive for someone of his profession and experience because if a producer can bring a crew and cast full of people together for things like this, he can make the same effort as director I believe. When 'Congo' came along in 1995, I thought that was fantastic and well done, but still got a lot hate and bad criticism and I just don't get it.I saw the movie, read the book and both of them were excellent. But it was this movie that got Marshall started as a director. This really seemed to suit him, maybe even call to him in a way. I'd still like to know if still directs considering 'Congo' was his last directorial effort 25 years ago. He's still probably doing it, just on a more low key level following the bad press the film got. The spiders looked really intimidating and no matter how many times you saw them, you were just scared something bad was about to happen, when it did you squandered like a kid exposed to the most gruesome thing you'd ever seen, but when you see it as I did for the first time you turn from it like don't even want to see what happens next.

The music was incredible, still memorable in my head. Sometimes whenever I see a spider I think of that theme I hear when the insect lurks near or close to me, but I don't act as scared or nervous around them as I did before. Whatever you do, don't ask me to get up close to a spider, I will freak out right then and there. And if it's anything like the one in this film, forget about it! The day you see me go against a killer spider will be the day that I become Daniels' character and behave the way he did around them. We all have that one fear that began when we were children at one point in our lives, did we not? But sooner or later, we have to face up to that fear and conquer it, just like conquering fear itself. This film touches on that also, to face and overcome our fears and not allow them to rule over our lives. If you're afraid of spiders, maybe this film's not for you, but if you check it out anyway, be warned for some very tedious moments that may make you feel uncomfortable and have you cringe in your seat like you've never been before.

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