Arachnophobia

**Arachnophobia** is a 1990 American black comedy horror film directed by Frank Marshall which was released on July 18, 1990 by Hollywood Pictures.

## Plot

The film centers on a newly discovered Venezuelan spider being transported to a small American town that produces a new species of deadly spiders, which start killing the town's residents one by one.

## Cast

* Jeff Daniels as Dr. Ross Jennings
* Harley Jane Kozak as Molly Jennings
* Marlene Katz as Shelly Jennings
* John Goodman as Delbert McClintock
* Julian Sands as Dr. James Atherton
* Brian McNamara as Chris Collins
* James Handy as Milton Briggs
* Peter Jason as Henry Beechwood
* Henry Jones as Dr. Sam Metcalf
* Frances Bay as Evelyn Metcalf
* Roy Brocksmith as Irv Kendall
* Kathy Kinney as Blaire Kendall
* Stuart Pankin as Sheriff Lloyd Parsons
* Mary Carver as Margaret Hollins

## Box Office

"Arachnophobia" grossed $8,045,760 during its opening weekend. Overall, the film grossed $53,208,180 on an estimated budget of $22,000,000.

## Critical Reception

Empire magazine called "Arachnophobia" an *"exciting and thoroughly enjoyable, experience."*

Roger Ebert of the Chicago Sun-Times wrote: *"This is the kind of movie where you squirm out of enjoyment, not terror, and it's probably going to be popular with younger audiences - it doesn't pound you over the head with violence. Like the spider itself, it has a certain respect for structure."*

Gene Siskel of the Chicago Tribune praised John Goodman's performance, saying that it *"takes the edge off the horror and makes "Arachnophobia" palatable for people of all ages."*

Entertainment Weekly said: *"Arachnophobia is a skin-crawling horror film that never loses its cheeky, throwaway edge."*

David Ansen of Newsweek said: *"It pushes the audience's buttons with Pavlovian finesse, manufacturing industrial-strength adrenaline. First-time director Frank Marshall has long been Steven Spielberg's producer, and he's learned the master's lessons well."*

Slant Magazine wrote: *"Arachnophobia isn’t great filmmaking, appearing to be kept in check by vaguely resembling Spielbergian entertainment without rising to its altitudes. But it’s a pleasant, acutely nostalgic elicitation of the VHS era and the woozy, preadolescent excitement of awaiting the next cranked-out Spielberg Xerox picture."*

Janet Maslin of the New York Times said: *"Arachnophobia falters only when it becomes too broad, as in a dopey nod to Psycho that captures none of Hitchcock's formal elegance, and in various minor characters who serve as comic grotesques."*

Variety magazine said: *"Frank Marshall's sophisticated feature directing debut never indulges in ultimate gross-out effects and carefully chooses both its victims and its means of depicting their dispatch."*

## Awards

**Saturn Awards** (1991)

* Best Horror Film [**Winner**]
* Best Actor: Jeff Daniels [**Winner**]
* Best Supporting Actor: John Goodman [*Nominated*]
* Best Director: Frank Marshall [*Nominated*]
* Best Writing: Don Jakoby and Wesley Strick [*Nominated*]

**Young Artist Awards** (1991)

* Most Entertaining Family Youth Motion Picture (Comedy/Horror) [*Nominated*]
* Best Young Actress Supporting Role in a Motion Picture: Marlene Katz [*Nominated*]