Arachnophobia (****)

[ilovemovies]

Arachnophobia **** To me the definition of a scary movie is a movie that truly has an effect on me forever. And in that definition, there is only movie I could ever call scary. And this is it. To this day I have never felt comfortable near spiders thanks to this movie. Not even Jaws has had this kind of impact. Sure it had an impact, for awhile I was afraid of going in the ocean. But that has since disappeared. But even today I hate spiders. Even harmless daddy-longleggers. I kill any spider that comes in my path. Yet, even though this movie is a great spine-tingler, it is also very funny. Most of the humor comes from John Goodman who plays the exterminator. He is great. But there are two reasons that make this movie the under appreciated jewel it is. The first is the movies slow buildup uptil its explosive climax which really gets your skin hair up. Also, if it weren't for Jeff Daniels performance, the fear wouldn't have been so palpable. This movie has great writing, directing and acting all around. I think it is a classic and certainly one of the unsong masterpieces of the 1990's.

[Horror whore]

It's not really scary...I'm not sure what this movie is, it's interest and fun is all I can think of..I'd give it a 7/10 (***)

[Ebert]

Pure entertainment!

I loved it!

(8/10)

[Lindsey]

I love this movie! Everytime I watch that movie I shudder at the thought of all those spiders.The ending was a little fake but it was still good! 8/10

[inglourious basterd]

As a kid, this movie scared the shit out of me....its a great flick.

[countchocula]

Definitely entertaining and well-paced, 4/5

[dragon]

Being a spider freak, I really loved some of the scenes. Not the best of movies, but I did enjoy it. I'd give it a 6/10.

[goddess_isis]

I absolutely hate spiders...they are ugly nasty little things...but, I watched the movie..once..afterwards walking around the house to make sure no spiders were going to drop from the ceiling and into my face...ewwwwww. Anyway it was a good movie...I would give it a 6/10...

BTW just a little fyi the Giant Goliath Bird Eating Spider in Brazil gets to be as large as a dinner plate, with 2 inch fangs...

[RicochetShaw]

I enjoyed this movie as well, but on a critique scale i would give it 6/10. Oh and by the way, that little Daddy Long Legs may look harmless, but he is actually more venomous than any spider, but has no way to inject the poison.

[PackBacker]

"Arachnophobia" 1990

Directed by: Frank Marshall ("Cpngo")
Written by: Don Jakoby, Al Williams, and Wesley Strick

Starring: Jeff Daniels, John Goodman, Julian Sands, Harley Jane Kozak

6/10

"Well yes, a spider web would reveal an arachnid presence."

Plot: A particularly poisonous spider hitches a ride back to the United States with a corpse. It proceeds to populate a sleepy little town with its venemous offspring. Meanwhile a new doctor (Daniels with a coincidental horrible spider phobia) moves to town to take over a country practice. Strangely, every patient he sees dies under mysterious circumstances. He must warn everyone of the danger while trying to ditch the moniker of Dr. Death. With the help of the local exterminator (Goodman) and the world's leading spider expert (Sands),
the new doc must search out and destroy the queen and her pulsating egg sac.

Review: "Arachnophobia" is a creature feature that will strike a nerve with more than a few people. Spiders strike a visceral feeling for a lot of people- sort of like the IRS, clowns, dentists, or sharks. While this film is nowhere near the greatness of "Jaws" it gives off that vibe in spots- the film knows what scares its audience and gives it to them in small doses leading up to a big finale.

The plot is routine except for the doctor angle (old vs new) which is pulled off nicely and helps us empathize with our protagonist. We get a bit of character development instead of a wham-bam-thank you ma'am animal rampage.

The acting is solid all around. Daniels pulls off the scared hero to a T. John Goodman steals every scene he is in with his bumbling humor and then his Rambo like extermination battle. Effects are minimal and this works to the film's advantage. The spiders were real so very little suspension of disbelief has to be utilized. Fake looking mega-spiders (see "Eight Legged Freaks") aren't scary and the whole feel of the movie is lost. The filmmakers seem to realize this and opt for small critters that appear solitary at first and then in huge hordes for the finale.

The film doesn't do anything new or ground-breaking. It is, though, that rare blend of a film that is creepy enough to (appropriately) scare both kids and adults.

[Cronos]

this is the film i blame for my slight fear of spiders

its been a while since i last saw it but i do remember the acting to be pretty good and both funny and creepy at times. i also remember a really bad plastic tarantula but overall an entertaining film

7/10

[SIREN30]

I saw this rcently again. I think the last time I saw it was actually at the movie theater when it was released and it scared the bejees out of me...ha. Anyway, I watched it last week and was a little less impressed. I mean, the spiders are fun and the movie is entertaining but it's so preposterous...:rolleyes:

From Julian Sands somehow being wafted into the air and wound into a web w/in a few hours to 'indestructable' spiders to spiders hurling themselves accross the room, ablaze mind you, w/ 'revenge' on their mind to being impaled w/ a nail gun to the pitiful screams of the baby spiders...oh dear.

I know it's not supposed to be believable but it does make the movie more comedy than intended, I think.:)

[poopontheshoes7]

This used to be one of my favorite movies when I was a kid. Pure popcorn fun. I hadnt seen it in years than all of a sudden its always on tv.

8/10