The film's opening moments picture an insect expert digging up and then tracking the travels of a poisonous male spider who has burrowed in the coffin of one of its victims from the Venezuelan jungle to California. Although the scientist knows they are deadly, he wants to pursue his research... [More]

The film's opening moments picture an insect expert digging up and then tracking the travels of a poisonous male spider who has burrowed in the coffin of one of its victims from the Venezuelan jungle to California. Although the scientist knows they are deadly, he wants to pursue his research regardless of the danger. Then the film cuts to a doctor and his wife leaving the hustle and bustle of San Fransisco and moving out to the country. When they arrive, he becomes the town doctor, but he soon earns the nickname "Dr. Death" because none of his patients survive. At first, he can't understand what's killing so many people; then he realizes the disease might be caused by a rare breed of spider. Not even the exterminator believes him -- until it is almost too late. [Less]