Spider (2002)

Director:

David Cronenberg

Writers:

Patrick McGrath (novel)
Patrick McGrath (written by)

Release Date:

13 September 2002 (Portugal)

Genre:

Drama | Mystery

Tagline:

The only thing worse than losing your mind... is finding it again.

Plot:

A mentally-disturbed man takes residence in a halfway house. His mind gradually slips back into the realm created by his illness, where he replays a key part of his childhood.

Plot Keywords:

Halfway House | Spider | Key | Schizophrenia | Railway Station

Awards:

12 wins & 17 nominations

Cast

Ralph Fiennes	...	Spider
Miranda Richardson	...	Yvonne / Mrs. Cleg
Gabriel Byrne	...	Bill Cleg
Lynn Redgrave	...	Mrs. Wilkinson
John Neville	...	Terrence
Bradley Hall	...	Spider Boy
Gary Reineke	...	Freddy
Philip Craig	...	John
Cliff Saunders	...	Bob
Tara Ellis	...	Nora
Sara Stockbridge	...	Gladys
Arthur Whybrow	...	Ernie
Nicola Duffett	...	Barmaid
Jake Nightingale	...	Large Man
Alison Egan	...	Flashing Yvonne

Also Known As:

Spider (Canada: French title)

MPAA:

Rated R for sexuality, brief violence and language.

Runtime:

98 min | Spain:94 min (DVD edition)

Country:

Canada | UK

Language:

English

Color:

Color

Aspect Ratio:

1.78 : 1

Sound Mix:

Dolby Digital

Certification:

Iceland:12 | Brazil:14 | Argentina:13 | Australia:MA | Canada:14A | Finland:K-15 | France:-12 | Germany:12 | Hong Kong:IIB | Japan:PG-12 | New Zealand:R13 | Norway:15 | Philippines:PG-13 | Portugal:M/16 | Singapore:M18 | South Korea:18 | Spain:18 | Sweden:15 | Switzerland:16 (canton of Geneva) | Switzerland:16 (canton of Vaud) | UK:15 | USA:R

Filming Locations:

Cinespace Film Studios, Toronto, Ontario, Canada

Company:

Capitol Films

Trivia:

Samuel Beckett was one of the director's touchstones for the film. Photographs of the playwright were pinned around the sets, and Fiennes' hairstyle is even modeled after Beckett's.

Goofs:

Crew or equipment visible: There is a reflection of a crewmember in the building window while Spider walks on Kitchener street.

Quotes:

Terrence: Nasty stuff: Gas. I knew a man once... Put his head in a gas oven... Turned on the gas... Then, he changed his mind... But his head was STUCK!

Movie Connections:

Featured in "SexTV: Dark Desires: Sexuality in the Horror Film (#5.15)" (2003)

This film is nothing short of a Masterpiece

This film kept me totally engaged during every single second. The acting was no less than you would expect from such a talented cast - brilliant performances from all. Ralph Fiennes is just superb. Gabriel Byrne in probably the most difficult role of his career to date keeps the `secret' to the end. John Neville and Lynn Redgrave, provide the supporting roles with a flare that never upstages the lead actors. Bradley Hall as the Boy Spider gave a fine performance as only child actors can. But it was the Chalk and Cheese characters play by Miranda Richardson that for me stole the show and clearly shows how deep her talents run.

The script, adapted by the author of the book, was powerful without going over the top and was very authentic. Even throwaway lines by supporting actors had meaning and helped convey the power and momentum of this masterpiece `.. seven packets of Crisps and a packet of Embassy.' Many times have I uttered similar words in a London Pub.

The locations were so real, you could smell and tasted them - I grew up in such a places and in the same period as the Boy Spider - every single and highly accurate detail brought my childhood memories rushing back.

The story is real - events like the critical event in this film really did happen and still do.

For international readers, England from the late 70's onwards adopted a 'Care in the Community' programme and every city and major town has halfway houses, like the one portrayed in this film, where newly released inmates of mental institutions are ordinarily just dumped to fend for themselves.

This film is nothing short of a Masterpiece - the real pity is that it won't appeal to a wider international audience.