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Spider

Play trailer Poster for Spider R Released Feb 28, 2003 1h 38m Mystery & Thriller Drama Play Trailer Watchlist
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84% Tomatometer 140 Reviews 68% Popcornmeter 10,000+ Ratings
Released after decades in a sanitarium, schizophrenic Dennis Spider Cleg (Ralph Fiennes) moves into Mrs. Wilkinson's (Lynn Redgrave) halfway house and befriends a fellow resident, Terrence (John Neville), before retreating into personal writing and the darkness of his own haunted mind. Spider struggles to decipher murky memories of a childhood trauma involving his abusive father (Gabriel Byrne), his murdered mother (Miranda Richardson), and a prostitute who may have replaced her.
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Spider

Spider

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Critics Consensus

Ralph Fiennes is brilliant in this accomplished and haunting David Cronenberg film.

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Critics Reviews

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Barbara Ellen The Times (UK) The film's slow, plodding pace relies too much on strong performances and grubby splashes of "atmosphere" rather than genuine emotion and plot. Jan 3, 2018 Full Review Eric Harrison Houston Chronicle This is one of the director's most accomplished films. Rated: A Apr 26, 2003 Full Review Chris Vognar Dallas Morning News It's a pleasure to watch such an understated treatment of potentially sensational subject matter. Rated: B+ Apr 24, 2003 Full Review Diana Tuova Loud and Clear Reviews Cronenberg’s controlled direction and Fiennes’s mesmerizing performance make Spider a riveting portrayal of one fractured mind haunted by a painful past. Rated: 4/5 Nov 12, 2024 Full Review Joe Lipsett Anatomy of a Scream Podcast Network A film built around a predictable twist that Cronenberg seems ill-suited for. Fiennes delivers a decent performance, but most of the present-day scenes feel inconsequential compared to the past. Richardson's dual roles are the film's greatest asset Nov 7, 2024 Full Review Bill Bria Vague Visages Cronenberg’s more internalized era doesn’t skimp on the devastating effects of self-destruction — in fact, it arguably finds them even more pronounced. Jun 15, 2023 Full Review Read all reviews

Audience Reviews

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Alejandro E The odyssey of Telemachus, brought to the present day, in the person of a psychiatric patient, in a journey of introspection that is more destructive than sobering. The highlight is Ralph Fiennes who expresses much with few words. Rated 4.5 out of 5 stars 03/16/25 Full Review Sinisa P Powerful and tragic story, kept me processing it for days after I watched the movie. Pity that intro on RT is a spoiler. Rated 5 out of 5 stars 06/02/24 Full Review David W While difficult to follow at first and leaving the audience with too many unanswered questions for my liking, Spider does offer interesting and compelling filmmaking with the audience piecing together the story alongside the protagonist. However, the opacity is too much for my taste. I would only watch this again if there were nothing better to choose from. Rated 3 out of 5 stars 02/24/24 Full Review Farah R Despite Ralph Fiennes' exquisite performance and the shocking plot twist ending, Spider is painstakingly slow and dull. I'm not sure its pros outweigh the cons. Rated 1 out of 5 stars 08/17/23 Full Review colin m A fiftysomething man endeavours to reconstruct his past. Rated 5 out of 5 stars 03/30/23 Full Review Audience Member As disturbingly depressing as it's meant to have been Rated 3 out of 5 stars 01/30/23 Full Review Read all reviews
Spider

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Cast & Crew

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David Cronenberg

Director

Ralph Fiennes

Spider

Miranda Richardson

Mrs. Cleg

Gabriel Byrne

Bill Cleg

Bradley Hall

Boy Spider

Lynn Redgrave

Mrs. Wilkinson

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Spider

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Movie Info

Synopsis Released after decades in a sanitarium, schizophrenic Dennis Spider Cleg (Ralph Fiennes) moves into Mrs. Wilkinson's (Lynn Redgrave) halfway house and befriends a fellow resident, Terrence (John Neville), before retreating into personal writing and the darkness of his own haunted mind. Spider struggles to decipher murky memories of a childhood trauma involving his abusive father (Gabriel Byrne), his murdered mother (Miranda Richardson), and a prostitute who may have replaced her.
Director
David Cronenberg
Producer
Catherine Bailey
Screenwriter
Patrick McGrath, Patrick McGrath, David Cronenberg
Distributor
Sony Pictures Classics
Production Co
CBL, Artists Independent Network
Rating
R (Language|Brief Violence|Sexuality)
Genre
Mystery & Thriller, Drama
Original Language
English
Release Date (Theaters)
Feb 28, 2003, Original
Release Date (Streaming)
Oct 1, 2017
Box Office (Gross USA)
$1.6M
Runtime
1h 38m
Sound Mix
Dolby Stereo, Dolby Digital, Dolby A, Surround, Dolby SR
Aspect Ratio
Flat (1.85:1)
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