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MOVIES / ON DVD / EIGHT LEGGED FREAKS
Eight Legged Freaks

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Eight Legged Freaks (2002)

47%
67%
42%
N/A
N/A
N/A
47 %
Reviews Counted: 140 Fresh: 66  Rotten:74 Average Rating: 5.5/10
 
Consensus: This homage to the B-movies of the '50s has a promising first half, but runs out of ideas in the second.
 

How does the Tomatometer work?

The Tomatometer measures the percentage of positive reviews from Approved Tomatometer Critics for a certain movie.[-]

Runtime: 1 hr 35 mins

Synopsis: New Zealand-born Ellory Elkayem's EIGHT LEGGED FREAKS is a ridiculously irreverent romp that pays homage to American b-movies of the 1950s. Set in the nearly bankrupt mining town of Prosperity, Arizona, the film opens with the timely return of Chris McCormack (David Arquette). On the... New Zealand-born Ellory Elkayem's EIGHT LEGGED FREAKS is a ridiculously irreverent romp that pays homage to American b-movies of the 1950s. Set in the nearly bankrupt mining town of Prosperity, Arizona, the film opens with the timely return of Chris McCormack (David Arquette). On the outskirts of town, a spider-loving eccentric discovers that water from a nearby river has a steroid-like effect on his tiny creatures. Unfortunately, that's because it has been contaminated by a toxic substance. It isn't long before the now-monstrous spiders are terrorizing Prosperity's townspeople. Taking refuge in the Prosperity Mall, Chris and his fellow cohorts--the beautiful Sheriff Sam Parker (Kari Wuhrer), her kids Mike (Scott Terra) and Ashley (Scarlett Johansson), Deputy Pete (Rick Overton), and paranoid radio DJ Harlan (Doug E. Doug)--search for a way to destroy the gigantic monsters before they are destroyed. Handpicked by producers Dean Devlin and Roland Emmerich, writer-director Elkayem rises to the challenge. He successfully retains the lighthearted, low-budget feel of similar-toned 1950s classics (TARANTULA, THEM!) and merges it with a modern, big-budget aesthetic, to create an outrageously fresh contribution to the "mutant bug" genre. [More]

Genre: Comedies

Starring: David Arquette, Kari Wuhrer, Scarlett Johansson, Scott Terra, Leon Rippy

Director: Ellory Elkayem
Screenwriter: Ellory Elkayem, Jesse Alexander
Producer: Dean Devlin, Bruce Berman
Composer: John Ottman

DVD Info

Release:

May 10, 2004

[DVD Details]

DVD Features:

  • Region 1
  • Snap Case
  • Anamorphic Widescreen - 1.85
  • Single Side - Dual Layer

Additional Release Material:

  • Alternate Ending
  • Deleted Scenes
  • Audio Commentary - 1. David Arquette - Star, Ellory Elkayem - Director
  • Bonus Feature - 1. LARGER THAN LIFE (directed by Ellory Elkayem)
  • Trailers - 1. Original Theatrical Trailer

DVD-ROM Features:

  • Game - 1. Spider Killing Video Game

Reviews

 
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1 - 20 (sorted by date; UK critics are listed first)
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N/R

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01/26/06
Time Out
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3/5

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02/02/03
Empire Magazine
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N/R

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11/12/02
Jason Solomons
Daily Mail [UK]
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5/5

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Full Review | comment Comment
10/30/02
Matthew Turner
ViewLondon
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2/4

The enormo-spiders have exactly the right presence, but the movie fails in its hour of introduction; its townspeople are not funny, they're boring.

Full Review | comment Comment
09/09/02
Ian Waldron-Mantgani
UK Critic
N/R

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Full Review | comment Comment
08/20/02
Guardian [UK]
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N/R

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08/13/02
FilmFour.com
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3.5/5

A gem of a movie - a genuine "eww-gross" schlockhorror that's also a great send-up for fans of '50s B-movies.

Full Review | comment Comment
08/08/02
Victor Olliver
Teletext
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3/5

Flick your brain into neutral and let your nervous system be your guide.

Full Review | comment Comment
08/05/02
Nev Pierce
BBC
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N/R

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07/18/02
Rich Cline
Shadows on the Wall
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2/4

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12/27/07
Joe Lozito
Big Picture Big Sound
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4/5

The best giant-spider movie I've seen in quite some time.

Full Review | comment Comment
07/30/07
Rob Gonsalves
eFilmCritic.com
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2.5/5

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Full Review | comment Comment
12/06/05
Film Threat
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N/R

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05/19/04
Colin Covert
Minneapolis Star Tribune
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02/01/04
FilmStew.com
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3/4

No Aracnhophobia but still good.

Full Review | comment Comment
01/07/04
Stefan Birgir Stefansson
sbs.is
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3/4

Click to read review

Full Review | comment Comment
01/07/04
Michael Dequina
Mr. Brown's Movies
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1/4

There's something distasteful about a supposed 'B-movie' made with the financial backing of a major Hollywood studio and production company.

Full Review | comment Comment
01/06/04
Greg Maki
Star-Democrat (Easton, MD)
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2.5/4

Fans of the Kevin Bacon action-comedy Tremors (1989) will feel right at home.

Full Review | comment Comment
05/20/03
Tyler Hanley
Palo Alto Weekly
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2/5

If you want to enjoy a campy but fun B-movie, then go with a real B-film . . . Don't fall for mainstream Hollywood's pale big-budget imitation.

Full Review | comment 1 Comment
03/19/03
Brian Mckay
eFilmCritic.com
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Related Forums

Totally Underrated
by: GunslingerOnAPlane 8/25/06


REEL_REVIEWER
EIGHT LEGGED FREAKS - an "exact" reproduction of a cheesy, 50's sci-fi B-movie!
by: REEL_REVIEWER 5/21/05


REEL_REVIEWER
EIGHT LEGGED FREAKS - an "exact" reproduction of a cheesy, 50's sci-fi B-movie!
by: REEL_REVIEWER 5/21/05


REEL_REVIEWER
EIGHT LEGGED FREAKS - an "exact" reproduction of a cheesy, 50's sci-fi B-movie!
by: REEL_REVIEWER 5/21/05


REEL_REVIEWER
EIGHT LEGGED FREAKS - an "exact" reproduction of a cheesy, 50's sci-fi B-movie!
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• Eight Legged Freaks at Rotten Tomatoes
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• Eight Legged Freaks at AskMen
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