Review of Spiderhole (2010) by Joe A — 21 May 2012

Spiderhole is a British horror thriller about a group of four young squatters who break into an abandoned house to live in. Unfortunately for them, there is already an occupant and he doesn't want them to leave.

..ever. Spiderhole is technically well made but, it's nothing new nor is it done in a way to make it fresh. The four leads are dull and not particularly endearing or likable so right there we have no emotional investment to care about their well being, which is a common mistake in horror films these days.

When the film is not following them around the maze-like house, it's being a routine torture show as the creepy plastic wearing occupant one by one captures them for some very nasty surgery. We never get to know much about this sick surgeon, not enough to give him the kind of presence or threat he needed to be effective.

In fact we never really feel any dread or suspense despite the fact that he is always lurking about. Aside from our emotional detatchment to the leads, the film never builds any atmosphere or a sense of danger with it's by the numbers presentation of it's story.

Director Daniel Simpson has a very point and shoot style that creates none of the mood this film needed to get past it's tired plot. And tired of these unimaginative torture flicks is the only emotion we feel as Spiderhole is an empty hole.