Arachnophobia

No 2. Arachnophobia

Plot: South American killer spider hitches a lift to the US in a coffin and starts to breed and kill.

Tag Line: Eight legs, two fangs and an attitude.

Trivia: Mustard packs were used for effects for all the squashing of spiders underfoot.

The small spiders used in the film were Avondale spiders (Delena Cancerides), a harmless species from New Zealand that were provided by Landcare Research in Auckland. Despite their fierce appearance, this spider is docile member of the crab-spider family and are, in fact, harmless to humans. They were not allowed back in New Zealand for quarantine reasons. The giant "spider" used in the film was a species of a bird-eating tarantula, which attains an 8" legspan or more. Those types of tarantula are not easy to handle and can give a nasty bite. The spiders in the film were managed and handled by famed entomologist Steven R. Kutcher.

Quotes: Delbert McClintock: Would anyone object if I tore this floor out? Molly Jennings: I would. Delbert McClintock: False alarm then. Lead on.

Sheriff Lloyd Parsons: [introducing Delbert to Doctor Atherton] Excuse me. Professor? This is our town exterminator. Delbert McClintock: Delbert McClintock, infestation management. Always nice to meet a collegue. Sheriff Lloyd Parsons: Now, he believes he came across one of the offending spiders a couple of hours ago. Doctor James Atherton: Might you have brought it with you? Delbert McClintock: Actually, he's probably still at the bottom of my shoe. You really can't tell what it is anymore.

I hate spiders. I try not to use the word hate often but spiders are an object of intense loathing. You can imagine a movie about giant killer spiders would be on my list of things that make Bridget scream. The only thing in this movie that makes me smile is Julian Sands. He is a hottie.