“Arachnophobia” is a horror-comedy film that follows Dr. Ross Jennings, a newly-arrived doctor in a small town in California. When a spider from Venezuela is accidentally released from a coffin in the local mortuary, it begins to breed and create a colony of deadly spiders in the town. Dr. Jennings, who suffers from arachnophobia, must overcome his fear and work with the town’s exterminator to save the town from the deadly spiders.
Review:
“Arachnophobia” is a fun and entertaining horror-comedy film that effectively blends humor and scares. Director Frank Marshall creates a playful and tongue-in-cheek atmosphere that keeps the film from becoming too intense or frightening, while still delivering on the suspenseful moments.
The film benefits from strong performances by Jeff Daniels as Dr. Jennings and John Goodman as the eccentric exterminator, and the chemistry between the two actors is a highlight of the film. The practical effects and animatronics used to create the spiders are impressive and still hold up well today.
While “Arachnophobia” may not be the scariest or most original horror film, it is an enjoyable and well-crafted entry in the genre that has become a cult classic over the years.
Awards:
“Arachnophobia” was not nominated for any major awards, but it was a box office success, grossing over $53 million worldwide on a budget of $22 million.
| Directed by | Frank Marshall, |
|---|---|
| Screenplay by | Don Jakoby Wesley Strick |
| Story by | Don Jakoby Al Williams |
| Produced by | Kathleen KennedyRichard Vane |
| Starring | Jeff Daniels, Julian Sands, Harley Jane Kozak, John Goodman, |
| Cinematography | Mikael Salomon |
| Edited by | Michael Kahn |
| Music by | Trevor Jones |
| Production companies |
Hollywood Pictures Amblin Entertainment Tangled Web Productions |
| Distributed by | Buena Vista Pictures Distribution |
| Release date | July 18, 1990 |
| Running time | 110 minutes |
| Country | United States |
| Language | English |
| Budget | $22 million |
| Box office | $53.2 million |
