Arachnophobia

Director: Frank Marshall Frank Marshall

Overview

"It's most people's worst fears realized in the eight-legged horror-comedy Arachnophobia. Featured in a 1.85:1 non-anamorphic widescreen transfer, this picture looks fairly well-produced, though sports a softness that sometimes hurts the image. While it's frustrating that this movie wasn't given an anamorphic transfer, at least there is a minimal amount of grain, edge enhancement, and shimmer in the picture. Overall, the colors are very vibrant and the black levels solid and even. The audio is presented in Dolby Digital 5.1 in English. This is a well-mixed 5.1 soundtrack that utilizes directional effects on many occasions, though the bulk of the soundtrack usually comes from the front and center speakers. All aspects of the dialogue, effects, and music are clear of any excessive distortion or hiss. Also included on this disc are English captions. The only extra features to be found on this disc include a very short production featurette with a few scant interviews by the cast and crew, a theatrical trailer for the film, and some recommendations for other movie titles the viewer might enjoy."

Product Details

Release Date:	06/15/1999
UPC:	0717951002129
Original Release:	1990
Rating:	PG-13
Source:	Walt Disney Video
Region Code:	1
Presentation:	[Wide Screen]
Sound:	[stereo, Dolby Digital]
Language:	English
Time:	1:50:00
Sales rank:	11,294

Special Features

Widescreen edition; Dolby Digital 5.1 audio; Production featurette; Theatrical trailer; Chapter search

Cast & Crew

Performance Credits

Jeff Daniels	Actor
Harley Jane Kozak	Molly Jennings
John Goodman	Delbert McClintock
Julian Sands	James Atherton
Stuart Pankin	Parsons
Brian McNamara	Chris Collins
Mark L. Taylor	Jerry Manley,Actor
Henry Jones	Dr. Sam Metcalf,Irv's Assistant
Peter Jason	Henry Beechwood
James Handy	Milton Briggs
Roy Brocksmith	Irv Kendall
Kathy Kinney	Blaire Kendall
Mary Carver	Margaret Hollins
Marlene Katz	Shelley Jennings
Mike Fenton	Actor
Jane Marla Robbins	Edna Beechwood
Valorie Massalas	Actor
Theo Schwartz	Bunny Beechwood
Cori Wellins	Becky Beechwood
Chance Boyer	Bobby Beechwood
Robert Zajonc	Reserve pilot
Brandy	Brandy Beechwood
Frances Bay	Evelyn Metcalf
Warren Rice	Dick Manley
Robert Frank Telfer	Mayor Bob
Fiona Walsh	Little Girl
Terese Del Piero	Mom
Nathaniel Spitzley	Todd Miller
Jay Scorpio	Mover
Garette Ratliff Henson	Tommy Jennings
Mai-Lis Kuniholm	Girl Friend
Lois DeBanzie	Henrietta Manley

Technical Credits

Don Jakoby

Wesley Strick

Al Williams

Frank Marshall	Director,Executive Producer
Kathleen Kennedy	Producer
Steven Spielberg	Executive Producer
Matt Sweeney	Special Effects
Richard Vane	Producer
Chris Walas	Special Effects
Chuck Waters	Stunts
Don Jakoby	Screenwriter
Wesley Strick	Screenwriter
Clarke Coleman	Stunts
Al Williams	Screenwriter
Robert W. Cort	Producer
Ted Field	Producer
Craig Barron	Special Effects
Jane Alden	Sound Effects
Kevin Bartnof	Sound Effects
Ellen Blain	Sound Effects
James Ashwill	Sound Effects
Ed Bannon	Sound Effects

Editorial Reviews

This giggly big-budget horror film manages to mix thrills and laughs better than most and features nifty special effects from Chris Walas and Matt Sweeney. Arachnophobia is a fun throwback to the bug films of the 1950s and 1970s, but lacks either the Cold War paranoia of the former or the ecological awareness of the latter. Thus, the film blissfully stays at the creepy-crawly level without even the rudimentary depth of the classic ecokill movies. It may not be as campily enjoyable as Kingdom of the Spiders, but it has its moments. Director Frank Marshall and the cast (especially John Goodman as a gung-ho exterminator) are obviously having fun with the material, and the photography is marvelous. This is a great movie for Halloween, and, despite some mild gore, it is fun for children as well. This is the scariest spider movie ever made, however, so if you have a weakness for furry eight-legged horrors with sharp venomous fangs, be forewarned.