| | | Special Edition.
Features: DVD
This family will welcome anyone for a lunch, dinner or even a midnight snack.
"If you like trashy horror films, you should be thrilled with this special treat." Dennis Schwartz, Ozus' World Movie Reviews
"...Chaney is surprisingly affecting..." Entertainment Weekly
Editor's Note
This gleefully deranged cult favorite marked the feature debut of Jack Hill (COFFY, THE SWITCHBLADE SISTERS) and one of the final screen appearances of horror icon Lon Chaney Jr. The story takes place at the home of the Merrye family, victims of a strange disease that degenerates its victims to a pre-human, cannibal state. The sole remaining survivors are the family chauffeur, Bruno (Chaney), sexually precocious sisters Elizabeth (Beverly Washburn) and Virginia (Jill Banner) and their animal-like brother Ralph (Sid Haig). The kids like to stalk and kill anything that gets into the yard, including an unlucky telegram messenger (Mantan Moreland), and when some greedy relatives eager to claim the family fortune intrude upon their familial bliss, an evening of wild, murderous thrills is certain.Hill leavens the gruesome horrors of this film with sly wit, and even some touching moments; a tearful monologue by Chaney is a surprisingly moving highlight, and works eloquently as a farewell from the great star. Chanry also sings the zany title song. Fans of THE ADDAMS FAMILY or the films of Tim Burton are urged to check out this special midnight treat, which only gets better with repeat viewings.
| Features | Audio: English Dolby Digital Mono | | Interactive Menus | | Scene Selection |
| Technical Info
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Release Information
| | Studio: MPI |
| Release Date: 9/25/2007 |
| Running Time: 84 minutes |
| Original Release Date: 1964 | | Catalog ID: 8142 | | UPC: 00030306814292 | | Number of Discs: 1 |
Audio & Video
| | Original Language: English | | Available Audio Tracks: English | | Video: B&W |
| Cast & Crew
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| | Professional Reviews | Entertainment Weekly
"...Chaney is surprisingly affecting..." -- Rating: B 12/20/1996 p.85Sight and Sound
"[A] well-crafted black comedy with vivid performances and expert monochrome cinematography by Alfred Taylor." 12/01/2007 p.106 Classic-Horror 9 of 10
From the moment Lon Chaney Jr's craggy voice begins crooning about the maddest story ever told over the opening credits, it's apparent that Spider Baby is going to be something different from your average homicidal-family romp...One of the oddest things about a film that just oozes a sense of nasty playfulness is that it almost completely lacks gore of any kind. There's a severed ear and some briefly-viewed monstrosities, but otherwise, the film's clean. I suppose it's fitting. The children are all about having good old-fashioned fun, not wallowing in the bloody guilt of their deeds...Jack Hill's Spider Baby proves to be a minor cult gem, a film worth giving a look at least once. I'm betting that you'll be charmed by the quaint and quirky ways of the Merrye clan and their lovable oaf of a chauffeur. Even if you don't like the film, you can't hate it. As Bruno reminds us, "It isn't nice to hate!"
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