The Giant Spider

I can see the attempt to make this a 50's style film, but it doesn't work. Now I have seen movies of the 1950's including the nature on the rampage ones. This isn't that. There are many jokes throughout poking fun at 50's life, and that joke wears thin really quickly. The movie, simply, is too self aware to be a real throwback. Maybe I'm being too critical of the film but...it's a good attempt but just doesn't work. Stop trying too hard.

He is a fan of all things cheese. The 50s b movies were cheese. With the lack of technology Hollywood took a chance on movies like plan 9 and the day the earth stood still, war of the worlds and other aliens, giant bugs, etc. Christopher Mihm is a name you should always remember if you like 50s bugs, aliens, and space travel. He uses most of the same main cast. Mike Cook, Dan Sjerven, and his family, and a few from the Kaiser family. A few movies are tied together: the monster from phantom lake, terror from beneath the earth and the giant spider. He does one about every year or two, as it's low-budget. They are all black and white. Generally good family fun. Some of the kids may not get the references. Amazon has a lot of his movies. You won't be disappointed if you like cheese from the 50s. They look terrible by today's standard.

Spider A+, acting D-. I had high hopes for the Giant Spider, being that I love old black and white horror movies. Sadly this did not live up to those expectations.

I agree with most of the comments of the other reviewers. I just want to add that there is a lot of satire around the male-female relationships and the male-female stereotypes of the 1950s. The writers and director are obviously poking fun at the idea that all a woman wants is to be admired and married, and every man wants to be a hero.

The acting is mediocre at best. The special effects are of varied quality. Actually, the spider scenes are for the most part handled rather well. The stock footage is horribly obvious. As for the writing and directing, well, let's just say that Chris Mihm need not worry about being nominated for any Oscar.

It's quite obvious that this is a very low budget independent movie.

But... it's all done with a great deal of love for the fifties "big bug" movies that it pays tribute to. If it was any slicker it just wouldn't be as much fun as it is.

If you like these old films, you'll probably love The Giant Spider. I know I did.