WHY haven't I watched more Cronenberg films?! This is the third of his I've seen recently that had me completely enthralled in a bizarre and brilliant world. Ralph Fiennes is just mesmeric and does the whole psycho mumbling performance far better than most others who try it, bringing a tragic fragility to the role that makes you want to give the poor sod a hug. The drab and lifeless palette adds to the atmosphere tenfold and Howard Shore's score is a beautifully subtle emotional guide. Miranda Richardson and Gabriel Byrne are great in supporting roles, but it was John Neville who really stole the show for me. It's a completely gripping psychological portrait, and I absolutely loved it.

From this day forth, I shall always remember Spider as "That film where Miranda Richardson does a 'Spider-Man' directly at the camera".

This 2nd phase of Cronenberg explores the fuzzy muddled mind of a scruffy, chain-smoking mental, played spectacularly by Ralph Fiennes. Such a slow burning, intimate, low budget affair, Spider draws you into the drab and weary corners of shitsville London. There's something oppressive, claustrophobic and mournful about the fractured recollections of Dennis Cleg. I saw the ending coming a mile off but it's not about the destination, more how you get there.

Great performances.Wonderful score. Beautifully shot. Hard going but rewarding all the same.

Another mind bender from Mr. Cronenberg. This film takes us into the mind of a man struggling with his childhood memories of the loss of his mother. After being released from a mental institution and placed into a halfway house, we follow Dennis Cleg as he tries to piece together the events of his mothers murder. There is some great direction here, and Ralph Fiennes gives a stellar performance. It is a slow burn for sure, but that is to be expected. For the first half hour we are just basically following Cleg and being associated with his insanity. Then we get to the bones of the story and that's when it becomes interesting. Not going to get into spoilers here but as the mystery unfolds we are left with more questions than answers, but overall another great entry in the Cronenberg filmography.

Next, The Brood.

This one eluded me forever. A strange, meandering, underseen film. Has enough oddity and first-person empathy to keep propelling you forward that it could work on those unfamiliar with Cronenberg at all, and can deepen your respect for the man if you've seen and loved his filmography too. Underrated for sure, and Howard Shore once again solidifies himself as one of the great modern composers.

Although I do like Cronenberg a lot, Spider is just too little for me. It is too slow moving, and despite a great twist, never really caught on for me. The acting is great, and Cronenberg is a terrific storyteller but the whole affair ends leaving me feeling like "Is that it?" Unfortunately for me, that was it.

I loved the book and was thrilled to find out that Cronenberg had made it into film with Patrick McGrath writing the screenplay (how had that passed me by?). The novel entirely consists of the protagonist's inner dialogue and unfolding memories so it was always going to be a difficult one to film. Through the simple device of the present-day character appearing in the scenes of his past Cronenberg achieves this without the need to resort to narration.

My only criticism is that the film feels a little rushed. The book builds a rich and evocative picture of Spider's madness and torment and at seems to me that the film could have taken another 30 minutes to add more texture. As it stands the film feels like a much more straightforward telling of Spider's story. This film is definitely worth a watch but, if it intrigues you, I'd urge you to take the time to read the book.

Although I do like Cronenberg a lot, Spider is just too little for me. It is too slow moving, and despite a great twist, never really caught on for me. The acting is great, and Cronenberg is a terrific storyteller but the whole affair ends leaving me feeling like "Is that it?" Unfortunately for me, that was it.

A mesmerizing performance by Ralph Fiennes is the cornerstone of this uneasy film about a delusional man who constantly keeps the viewer guessing what is real and what isn't. Despite the film's relatively short running time it takes quite a bit of attention to stay there due to the focused direction and slow moving events - that may sound like a negative thing but really isn't - but the getting there is still equally enthralling as the outcome.

my favorite cronenberg. maybe because it is also one of my favorite patrick mcgrath books. i guess eastern promises and history of violence run closely to this, but fiennes' performance is brilliant as a tortured man.

I had trouble keeping interest in this but I think that was a problem with me rather than the film. It's probably much better than I think.

Cronenberg shoots imposing father figures (Byrne, Neville) with heads reaching outside the frame - claustrophobic head spaces. We experience the past and present along with Fiennes' muttering, distant Clegg. Slow moving with visual depictions of Clegg's pathology.

Beautifully acted and wonderfully shot. Spider never goes crazy enough to make you lose your bearings, but just enough for the film to succeed.

One of those movies that's finely crafted in almost every way, yet you can't think higher of it. Slow as a concrete serum. Despite how involving the plot might be, the pace was slow as hell. The acting was great (especially Fiennes) and the plot was intriguing. But despite all those points in favor of it, I couldn't help but look at the clock to see when will it end.

Cronenberg made a clever interweaving in style of David Lynch's charades. And it was filmed pretty good, praise to makeup artists! Read carefully the final credits.

Too slight to make much of an impression. Cronenberg's commitment to restraint is admirable, I guess, but totally misplaced in a film that takes place largely inside the memories of a schizophrenic.

Fiennes is pretty amazing, even though I'm not convinced Old(er) Spider is altogether necessary, something that can also be said of the film as a whole.