Buzz
It's Halloween! We can't let the last list of the day disappoint, so we're not only sharing a thrilling list about one of nature's scariest creatures, but it's also penned by one of our most beloved writers: Flamehorse. So dive into the list, and then head to your nearest Halloween party – but don’t overdo it on the candy! And oh, a heads-up: tarantulas ahead!
10. Tarantula
This movie was a kitschy, 1950s giant monster flick. King Kong had already set the stage for this genre, and by the time this film came out, technology had evolved beyond stop-motion effects.
Released just a year after Japan struck cinematic gold with Godzilla, some American visionary thought, “Everyone's terrified of spiders! Let’s create a giant one!” It didn’t quite hit the mark, though, since the giant spider couldn't move like a real one. It's not the scariest, but still fun to watch a massive spider rampage through a city, devouring people. Especially entertaining when Clint Eastwood takes charge in a thrilling bombing raid.
9. Tarantulas: The Deadly Cargo
A classic, retro ’70s exploitation film. It takes arachnophobia to the extreme. A plane coming from South America is carrying tarantulas as stowaways, just a few tens of thousands of them.
The tarantulas break free on the plane and actually cause it to crash in a California town by overwhelming the pilots! Then, the locals open the plane and release the creepy creatures into the town.
This film is crying out for a remake with SAMUEL L. JACKSON!!
YES! THEY DESERVE TO DIE AND I HOPE THEY BURN IN HELL!!!
8. Dr. No
Apparently, even James Bond isn’t immune to fear. In this scene, a giant tarantula is portrayed as being highly venomous. At the time, audiences weren’t exactly experts on spiders.
Bond remains completely still, paralyzed with fear, until the spider finally crawls off him – then all hell breaks loose. A tragic moment for the spider, but you never challenge Bond.
7. Home Alone
Joe Pesci probably took on this role to shed the Mafia typecast. He and Daniel Stern are undoubtedly the comedic highlights of the movie.
In a tense hallway moment, Stern nearly grabs Macaulay Culkin, but Culkin evades him. Spotting his brother's tarantula, Culkin seizes it and places it right on Stern's face.
The scream that followed deserved an Oscar nomination. After tossing the spider away, it lands on Pesci, and Stern finally regains control just long enough to slam Pesci in the chest with a crowbar.
A rare moment where the tarantula actually appears somewhat adorable. It survives the encounter.
6. The Beyond
This infamous 1981 Italian horror film has achieved cult status over the years. Quentin Tarantino is a fan. The story begins with a lynch mob crucifying a man, and his death opens a gateway to Hell. A true Shakespearean experience.
In a later chaotic moment, a librarian is caught off guard by a lightning strike, causing him to tumble off a ladder and knock himself unconscious. As he lies there, tarantulas—some clearly fake—swarm over him and tear his face apart! The sound effects elevate the scene, with the spiders squeaking like old hinges while a background noise resembling boiling pretzels hints at their gnawing.
5. Nothing to Lose
One of the most underrated comedies, though rarely appreciated. Tim Robbins and Martin Lawrence make an odd yet brilliant duo. In a particular scene, Robbins, fresh from a night in the desert, drives his SUV back to town with Lawrence riding shotgun.
'Man, there’s a spider on your head.'
'Look, I don’t keep up with all this jive talk and homeboy lingo. What does that even mean? “There’s a spider on your head?”'
'It means there’s a spider on your motherf___n’ head, man!'
The tarantula scurries from Robbins' temple to the middle of his face, all while he’s still driving. He slams on the brakes, jumps up, and starts what could only be described as 'the tarantella,' all to the tune of 'Scatman.' Earlier, he had sprayed his shoes with gasoline, and somehow manages to find his matches using just his heels. Meanwhile, Lawrence is in the passenger seat, practically rolling out of the car in laughter.
4. The Return of the King
Originally intended to be part of The Two Towers, as written by Tolkien, the producers delayed it for commercial reasons. But, I suppose the wait was worthwhile, as advancements in computer technology made it possible to create a disturbingly realistic, massive spider. A creature that moves swiftly, with foot-long fangs, a multitude of eyes, and a menacing stinger.
The spider is a hybrid of several New Zealand species, all of which spook Peter Jackson for various unsettling reasons.
Trivia: Should they ever choose to adapt The Silmarillion, J.R.R. Tolkien's prequel to The Lord of the Rings, there's a character named Ungoliant, a massive spider who makes Shelob seem... well, more like ordinary spiders we see in real life. In the book, Ungoliant perishes due to her insatiable hunger, ultimately consuming herself.
3. Something Wicked This Way Comes
Ray Bradbury absolutely nailed it with this tale. The two main characters, both preteen boys, end up angering a sinister, supernatural antagonist who operates a demonic carnival. This villain invades their dreams, and upon waking, they find their bedrooms overtaken by hundreds of large, fat, black, hairy tarantulas. They’re crawling all over the beds, under the sheets, on the floors, up the walls, and even on the doorknobs! And these are REAL TARANTULAS! Skitter-skitter-skitter.
2. This Night I Will Possess Your Corpse
A little-known masterpiece of horror from the 1960s. This film is a sequel to another where the villain, Coffin Joe, is the central character. Sounds promising, right?
In the sequel, Coffin Joe is once again on the hunt, searching for a woman to assault and impregnate. In one unsettling scene, he releases a swarm of black tarantulas into a bedroom full of sleeping women. The spiders move slowly and deliberately as he watches. They crawl over the women's bare skin, even their faces. The women wake up to a nightmare, and it’s pure chaos as they start screaming.
1. Arachnophobia
One of the rare films that accurately captures the terror that spiders instill. It’s not about giant spiders. If they were fast-moving, that would be a different story, but really, you only need a spider the size of your palm. Imagine hundreds of them, each about the size of your palm.
The spiders featured in the movie are Avondale spiders from New Zealand, scientifically known as Delena cancerides. They look terrifying, but surprisingly, they’re actually quite friendly for spiders. They’ll crawl all over you without biting, and you’d have to really provoke them to get a bite.
The most spine-chilling moment comes at the end, when the spiders abandon their nest and infest Jeff Daniels’ house. They cover the walls, doors, TV, pour out from the sink drain, crawl under doorknobs and doors, and dangle from the ceiling. In the movie, these spiders are so venomous that a single bite will kill you in just 5 seconds. Daniels falls down the stairs, crashing into the basement where the monstrous parents are nesting.
