There is a serial killer, the “Spider Killer”, stalking the low-level prostitutes of Mashhad, Iran. The police have little interest in finding the killer since all of his victims are considered to be unclean women and therefore looked upon as being less than human. In fact, what the Spider Killer is doing is seen by the general population as a positive thing. Enter female journalist Arezoo Rahimi who appears to be the luckiest news reporter in history because upon arriving Mashhad she, in a matter of days, somehow, in a city of over three and a half million people, locates this self-righteous lunatic.
HOLY SPIDER is an alright film. The acting is above average, but the entire thing is just too light-weight and weak. The story idea of a serial killer having free reign to do as he pleases in a large city that is being crushed down and oppressed by the religious government is fascinating and terrifying, but the film that ends up on the screen fails to relay any of that horror or conflict. I wanted to see more of the inner workings of the city leaders who publicly act like they care, but secretly support the murderer cleansing their streets of women who dare to walk “on the streets of this holy city, chewing gum” and “wearing short coats”. Instead, we get various random scenes of the monster hanging out with his family and friends who love him despite the fact that he has the personality of an iceberg.
HOLY SPIDER is a good film that creates a lot of food for thought, but it could have been much better.
