Review of Arachnophobia (1990) by Dave H — 31 Dec 2014

Not particularly scary for horror movie aficionados , but it wasn't mean to be. This is gentle thriller, if such things exist, kinda a cross between Hitchcock and Spielberg. I've watched multiple audiences jump out of their seats at various jump scenes, but this is mostly a fun, character-based mystery thriller designed to build suspense and provide a lot of chuckles rather than leave one feeling terrified.

Marshall was a long-term producer of Spielberg's when he first tried directing with this, and while his technical skill and visual sense is very generic compared to SS, one area where he compares favourably (arguably even tops) the master is the casting and the character work.

Apart from an overly-long/indulgent scientific prologue (which actually presages Jurassic Park in some ways), once the film hits Canima, the character work excels - even the minor roles are fleshed out with snips of dialogue and background detail and all brilliantly performed.

Goodman gets the most laughs, but Daniels holds the entire thing together like the pro he has always been. This film is wry, funny, fun, a little suspenseful, and endlessly rewatchable. Great monster mash.