Arachnophobia

If this lavish B movie is *ever* remembered in the future, it will undoubtedly be for the invention of the advertising buzz word "Thrill-omedy", surely the most ridiculous length *anyone* has ever gone to disguise the fact that they've made a horror film. Otherwise this killer-spider opus has its moments but falls flat for trying to be too many things for too many audiences. The low-budget _Kingdom of the Spiders_ handled a similar theme much better and much more cheaply.

Quite amusing in spots, but without John Goodman I'd have rated it about 10 points less...

A completely effective and fun thriller, mostly due to the fact that I hate spiders.

Billed as a "thrillomedy", this is standard monster insect fare. The movie looks terrific, but its plot, with tired writing, is rehashed 50s giant bug material.

Better than most people think. It's mix of subtle and over the top didn't appeal to most people, but I enjoyed it.

I have arachnophobia pretty much so you can only imagine how much I hated this movie...

fun.

I should really like this movie, I really should. But for some reason it doesn't work for me. Killer spiders? Check. Sands, Daniels and Goodman? Check. Witty dialogue filled with dark humour? Check. And still it doesn't do it for me. Pity.

Comic plot, not too scary (unless you have arachnophobia). Entertaining.

This Steven Spielberg-produced "thrillomedy" begins its steady decline as soon as we're introduced to the wimpy Daniels and the rest of his Typical American Family -- levelheaded spouse Kozak and a pair of standard-issue sitcom offspring. A mechanical script crammed with cliched creature setups, hoary horror-film gags, and Spielberg's patented brand of anvil whimsy likewise conspire to keep this from having any real bite.

Tame but effective

Most of the people I talk to about this movie get squeamish. It still stands up over the time it's been out and it really does get people scared. What more could you ask for.

This is a fuzzy, fun, good-natured thriller. It's creepy and funny and chugs along with an infectious charm.

This movie stinks. how's that for an in depth review?

Too Disney. Way too much of the casual wealth of the early 1990's.

Mmmm spider infestation in a small American town - hasn't this been done a million times in one form or another?

Not bad, but Tremors was better for the horror-comedy genre.

rewatch.

Apart from John Goodman as the exterminator, who really is the best in this movie, nothing really stands out.

Takes much longer to get started than I remember - maybe I am less patient now than I was when I saw this last. Once Goodman shows up around the 48 minute mark, it becomes the movie I remember. "Would anyone object if I tore this floor out?"

Pretty funny, despite my hatred of spiders.

I can't watch this movie any more--I am arachnophobic--but I seem to remember some excellent performances, including John Goodman at the height of his comedy career.

Not a great film, but it's fun all the way through. If I caught it on television I wouldn't turn it off.

Goodman is really funny. A good modern version of the monste B-movie