‎Spider Baby (1967) directed by Jack Hill • Reviews, film + cast • Letterboxd

Spider Baby

1967 Directed by Jack Hill

The most gruesome horror ever shown!

The story follows a family of inbreeds who have been afflicted by a genetic disorder known as 'Merrye syndrome', named after the family in which the disorder developed. This malady causes its victims to enter a state of age regression that starts at the age of ten and continues throughout the remainder of the person's life, rendering them with the intelligence of a child. The final generation of the family has been entrusted to the care of the family chauffeur (Lon Chaney Jr), and all is well for these odd people until a greedy branch of the family decides that they want to relieve the family of its home. Mental illness has always, and will always be, a fascinating subject for horror movies as it probes into the unknown and Spider Baby makes best use of that fact.

Lon Chaney Jr. Carol Ohmart Quinn K. Redeker Beverly Washburn Jill Banner Sid Haig Mary Mitchel Karl Schanzer Mantan Moreland

81 mins More details at IMDb TMDb Report this film

Popular reviews

Review by Disgustipated ★★★★★ 3

Hooptober 5.0 - 2018 - Film #13

WTF- Spider Baby!

Spider Baby is a young woman. Who thinks she is spider. It sounds so stupid. But it is awesome.

Spider girl, Virginia, is holed up in a gothic mansion with her retarded older brother Ralph, her constanly whining sister, Elizabeth, and the chauffeur, Bruno, who acts as their de-facto guardian and tries to keep them together and safe from the outside world. Considering that Virginia has a habit of throwing a web over the odd visitor with and stabbing them to death, it's probably not a bad idea to keep them separated.

But their peace is rudely interrupted by extended family members, a lawyer and a secretary who come to…
Review by Joe ★★★★★ 3

I've never seen a movie that strikes the tone this one does, an intersection between scary, funny, sexy, completely heartfelt, and totally disreputable. Lon Chaney's tearful late film monologue should be legendary if it isn't already. Same goes for Sid Haig's completely unhinged performance.
Review by matt lynch ★★★★

Lagrange point between "The Addams Family" and THE TEXAS CHAIN SAW MASSACRE.
Review by Naughty aka Juli Norwood ★½ 3

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Film #5 of the "Scavenger Hunt" Challenge!
Task #26 : An Exploitation film!
letterboxd.com/naughty/list/scavenger-hunt/

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Unfortunately I was immune to the charm others claim to have seen in this exploitation film! In my eyes the descriptive summary of the film was far more impressive than what unfolded onscreen! Most of the horrifying aspects of the film are either implied innuendo or happens off screen! What we are allowed to see doesn't amount to a hill of beans!

Highlights of the film would be a very young Sid Haig (Ralph) And the greatest wolfman ever Lon Chaney (Bruno) who quite frankly gave this film his all!
Review by laird ★★★★ 4

Somewhere between this and Zombie Shark Cheerleaders (or whatever DTV horror comedy is currently in post production somewhere on Earth this minute) we as a culture forgot that a movie that has horror elements can also be funny without being overtly self-referential, jokey, and stupid (2011's THE WOMAN is a notable counter example). Everyone plays their part with a straight forward conviction that makes the humorous aspects even more absurd and enjoyable. Lon Chaney Jr in particular summons something deep, dark and true in his turn as the straight man to his ghoulish family.

Also, a great theme song *or* the greatest theme song of all time?
Review by RachelBea ★★★★ 2

HOOPTOBER 5.0
6 films from before 1970 (1/6)

Fun as hell! Jill Banner (she played Virginia) is my everything!!!

Recent reviews

Review by IanChris ★★★★★

Up there with the most enamored I’ve been with a film upon first viewing. Spookiest opening credits, flirtiest performances, a fun time had by all.
Review by Joey Edsall ★★★★½

Hooptober 2018 #6

I haven't had this much fun watching a movie since I first saw Phantom of the Paradise. I don't think I've seen other reviews mention it but it feels like a primordial Raimi film. The primary intent of the writing and directing is evidently to entertain and it's hard to be bored. You don't even need to adjust for the time period.
Review by Disgustipated ★★★★★ 3

Hooptober 5.0 - 2018 - Film #13

WTF- Spider Baby!

Spider Baby is a young woman. Who thinks she is spider. It sounds so stupid. But it is awesome.

Spider girl, Virginia, is holed up in a gothic mansion with her retarded older brother Ralph, her constanly whining sister, Elizabeth, and the chauffeur, Bruno, who acts as their de-facto guardian and tries to keep them together and safe from the outside world. Considering that Virginia has a habit of throwing a web over the odd visitor with and stabbing them to death, it's probably not a bad idea to keep them separated.

But their peace is rudely interrupted by extended family members, a lawyer and a secretary who come to…
Review by RachelBea ★★★★ 2

HOOPTOBER 5.0
6 films from before 1970 (1/6)

Fun as hell! Jill Banner (she played Virginia) is my everything!!!
Review by Deeper Red ★★★★½

"Now children, we're going to have to keep some secrets today."
Review by LoVckie ★★★½

Spider Baby is a horror comedy and it is exactly that. It’s funny and slightly spooky. the characters are all interesting and different in their own ways. The game of ‘Spider’ that would be played while not really shown in gross violent detail, didn’t have to be. The brutality and gore are mostly spared and left to the audience's imagination. It would have been nice to see some gore however the less shown of it gives the film much more unpredictability and uncertainty as this film has a really good tone to it. The film is comedic but not in a self-aware way most comedy horror films are and it did have a few scares. Lon Chaney Jr. did amazing…
Review by Dale Raulerson ★★★

Reviewed as part of my Dreadit Top Horror Films by Decade – 2018 Challenge.

A cute little horror comedy with a rather strong cast all around, giving some solidly creepy and uncomfortable performances. Lon Chaney Jr. holds things together as the caretaker, and is quite endearing and even surprisingly emotional amid the zaniness. It did feel a bit too goofy for me sometimes, and despite its short run time, it still felt like some scenes were too drawn out. I can understand the appeal this has for a lot of people though, even if I wasn't head over heels for it. And The opening theme song and bits of animation are adorable.
Review by Amelia ★★★

I admire that Lon Chaney Jr.'s acting allows us to sympathize with any character he plays.
Review by Souvlakki Souvlakki ★★★★

I am not at all well versed in exploitation cinema (though this movie made me want to be more so) but I’m assuming this is the quintessential and most perfect place to start.

Sex, horror, comedy, complete with an end card that reads “ The end?”

P.S. Holy shit the amount of movies this influenced. Even last years RAW