Rating: Summary: 8 Legged Freaks: Superb Updating of Big Bug Movie Review: Hollywood has had a long fascination with BBM (Big Bug Movies). Usually, such monstrosities were the result of man's fooling around with forbidden experiments. The tone that the director usually took was in grimmest earnest. In films like THEM and THE THING, the local population had to band together in mutual self-defense while suffering heavy casualties before the Bright Eyed Handsome Scientist figured out how to whack the creature. In EIGHT LEGGED FREAKS, director Ellory Elkayem continues the time-honored tradition of presenting a host of mutant bugs--this time spiders--but infusing the film with a much needed breath of humor. Only one human really gets killed, thereby allowing the audience to focus on the odd melding of horror with humor. David Arquette plays a returning prodigal son who left town years ago, pining in unrequited love for Samantha (Kari Wuhrer--of SLIDERS fame), the tough talking but fiercely built sherrif who, of course, refuses to believe in the existence of oversized spiders until one literally jumps on her. The real stars are the leaping arachnids themselves, with each one the size of a VW Beetle, capable of leaping incredibly long distances. In matters of pure science, the Inverse Square Law forbids any such bugs from expanding in size while retaining their proportional mobility, yet, I was fascinated with the computer-enhanced special effects (at least I hope it was special effects) that permitted a horde of them from descending on a sleepy town. Whenever a BBM has a pint-sized geeky teen backing up the hero, then you know that the entire production is one continuous inside joke. There is a succession of allusions to other BBM. Director Elkayem even shows a few scenes of attacking ants from THEM. Later he gives the arachnids the ability to squeal in the manner of the furballs of GHOULIES. The thrill of this movie is not diluted by a predictable plot. Paradoxically, since the focus is more on humor than horror, then it can allow itself to be a self-conscious parody of many prior BBMs. By the time you get to the closing credits, you don't care that what you saw was as far removed from arachnid anatomy as Spiderman was from a real spider. All you know is that you found out that only the very best of BBMs allow you to laugh and cry at the same time.
Rating: Summary: they had personalities!! Review: Sweeeeeeetttt!!!!! This is the best giant bug movie ever! Th spiders had personalities! Like in my favorite scene where the spider bites the moose head, shakes its head in dislike then spits it out. That was great! U MUST C THIS MOVIE!!!!!
Rating: Summary: Quick, step on this bug! Review: Don't ask why and i admit it, but, i went to see this one on opening day. I was in the theater with a hand full of teenage veiwers. My type of movie is the sci-fi/horror flick. But with a handful of skate board kids i knew i'd get what i deserved! Stay home and watch "Them', 'It Came From Out of Space' or even 'This Island Earth'. See why those 1950 movies worked with their '1950's sencibility'...Let's not get into the price of movie going these days either!!
Rating: Summary: Tremors with Spiders! Review: This 'un raises the bar on "B" movies. It was so horrible I laughed all the way through it!I think that was the aim on this one (God, I hope so). Along the lines of movies like Tremors, Lake Placid, etc... it's so bad it's good. The story is a barrel of toxic waste drop into a nearby pond, the guy (Tom Noonan) who catches bugs at that pond feeds them to his spiders and the fun ensues! The spiders grow to the size of horses, and disappear into the mines where the males go forth and bring back alive-and-kicking human beings for the female (who is soemthing like five times the size of the males). I'm not sure exactly why the town wasn't over-run by mutant crickets and stuff as well... but hey, it doesn't have to make sense! The spiders sound a lot like Donald Duck, and the chase scenes are a riot (Yes, it's a B flick). The "Web effects" were kind a trip, and the characters are memorable. If you like really bad horror flicks (this one has GOTTA make it "Cult Classic"!), you'll love Eight Legged Freaks!
Rating: Summary: In Other Words, Updated "Attack of Giant Spiders" Review: This delightfully entertaining "Eight-Legged Freaks" doesn't use words such as "spiders" or "attack", but the film is about those web-spitting scary creatures that suddenly terrify the local town of "Prosperity" in Arizona. The story is, in short, THEY ATTACK! Period. That's all. But for those fans who love this genre, and know the titles of 1950s films like "Tarantula" (which showed a bit of unknown actor Clint Eastwood), "Eight-Legged Freaks" offers exactly what is necesary to spend some time of life joyfully. The stars, or humans attacked by the big bad spiders, are David Arquatte ("See Spot Run" and "Scream") and Kari Wuhrer ("Anaconda" and TV's "Sliders"). If you think the casting is intentional, you are right. (And among the producers you find Dean Devlin and Roland Emmerich, both behind the US "Gozzilla".) The cast and crew clearly are enjoying the making of the film, which deliberately makes use of old-fashioned monster-flicks; so, the spiders grow huge because of unidentified "toxic" thing, and a kid suspects there is something weird going on while adults ingore him ... etc., and you will find those familiar rules that are essential to the genre are used knowingly by the moviemakers in tongue-in-cheek fashion. Reflecting today's atomosphere, Ms. Wuhrer's character, a devorced tough local cheriff with a daughter (Scarlett Johansson, "Ghost World"), is no scream queen, but she fights against the giant spiders with a help from Arquette's character, an old friend of her who returned to the town after ten years. There are some sight gags that would make you smile, but because of today's advanced CGI techniques, the visuals are sometimes scary, especially for kids. Even the fans who should have been accustomed to shock might jump in the seat if they are too unprepared. The film, to be honest, lacks originality, and wavers between laugh and scare, never determined to be either of them. But its good CG images and measured pace are attractive enough to remind us of the pleasure of Kevin Bacon's much neglected "Tremors." This one may not be as good, but still is fun to watch.
Rating: Summary: all around good movie!! Review: This movie is the movie of the year! Well it is to me anyway. This movie is a bit of everything horror,action,comedy. Iv'e watched 6 times and I'm still not tired of it. I highly recommend this movie to anyone of any age. There are so many bonus features that you can just have fun with them. So come on what are yo waiting for? Buy it!
Rating: Summary: Spiders Rule! Review: This movie is awesome! I don't know why everyone sticks their noses up at this movie. David Arquette did a spectacular job, and so did everyone else! The DVD could've had some more things on it, but the Eight Legged Freaks game on the DVD-Rom extras is awesome! I recommend the DVD to anyone that loves sci-fi/action movies.
Rating: Summary: BIG BUGS AND BIG LAUGHS Review: It's hard to find a movie that can make you laugh and scream at the same time, but this movie does. Hysterically funny dialouge poking fun at the B movies of the fifties with incredible visual effects that bring a variety of giant arachnids to life make one of the most original films of the year.
Rating: Summary: Rent it, don't buy it. Review: I paid 99 cents to rent this movie. If I had paid more for it I would have been extremly upset. It was a cute movie to rent, but I wouldn't recommend buying it.
Rating: Summary: Think Lake Placid with spiders Review: This is a great movie. Just be sure that you understand what it is meant to be. As it is meant to be, it is a B movie that knows it. If you like Lake Placid you should like this. Same "not taking theirself seriously" kind of flair. It is hilarious. Thik of it as a suspensful comedy.
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