The Spider comes out at a time when there's a trend in horror movies that reimagine our childhood comic book heroes-like Mickey Mouse, Winnie the Pooh, or Popeye the Sailor-into something far more sinister. The Spider follows this trend with its alternative take on Peter Parker's transformation into our friendly neighborhood Spider-Man. However, in The Spider, things take a different and darker turn early on.
This short film also stands out in terms of its cast. Instead of a group of amateur actors, we get Chandler Riggs, whom many will recognize as Carl Grimes from The Walking Dead, playing Peter Parker. Holgie Forrester, who portrays Aunt May, has an acting career spanning several decades, with roles in films dating back to the 1960s. Additionally, the production seems to have had either an above-average budget or excellent financial management, as the effects are impressively executed.
It's clear that the director is likely a fan of the 1986 version of The Fly and other films in the body horror and transformation genre, particularly those centered around scientific experiments gone wrong. In The Spider, we're presented with an almost classic-style monstrous character, adding a fresh contribution to the genre while paying homage to the many old-school body horror films that once captivated and terrified audiences.
