Tarantula
Plot
Tarantula (1955) In this classic science fiction thriller, Dr. Deemer, a brilliant but eccentric scientist, has been conducting secret experiments in his desert laboratory. His latest creation is a serum that can accelerate growth and development, which he hopes will lead to a cure for the affliction of acromegaly. However, things take a dark turn when Deemer's lab assistant, Jenny, dies suddenly from an accelerated case of acromegaly that develops in just four days. The town's doctor, Grossman, is shocked and alarmed by this unprecedented event, which sparks his suspicions about Deemer's true intentions. As the investigation unfolds, it becomes clear that Deemer has been experimenting on himself to test the serum's effects. His body begins to rapidly change, with his hands growing larger and more grotesque by the day. The townspeople are horrified by Deemer's transformation, which is eerily reminiscent of a tarantula's growth. As the situation spirals out of control, Grossman finds himself in a desperate race against time to stop Deemer before he becomes completely unrecognizable and loses all human semblance. With the town's safety hanging in the balance, Grossman must confront his own fears and doubts to prevent a monstrous creature from wreaking havoc on their community. Tarantula is a gripping tale of science gone wrong, exploring themes of obsession, hubris, and the dangers of playing God. The film's eerie atmosphere, coupled with its thought-provoking premise, makes it a classic of the sci-fi horror genre that continues to captivate audiences to this day.
Reviews
Greyson
The monster is created by humans, and ultimately killed by humans. What did the spider do wrong?! Seeing Clint Eastwood running bit parts back then, involved in many monster movies~ Although he only showed his eyes at the end, he was still very handsome!
Dylan
Looks like Arnold loved spiders.
Jeremiah
Too sleepy to catch the midnight showing, but there's always the morning matinee. Absolutely loving these cheesy B-movies from the 50s… full of guilty pleasures!
Scarlett
The special effects in old movies are just fantastic. When I dream about being chased by monsters, it always has that hazy, dark, and blurry tone. And the female lead's costumes are so eye-catching! Before the spider even appeared, I was constantly checking out the characters' clothing, the architecture, and the props. That's one of the great things about watching black and white movies. It's like how a blind person's hearing becomes more acute. By removing color, the age, fabric, thickness, and function of things... somehow become clearer. (Thinking about it this way, black and white movies must be the most difficult to make, since you can't rely on the beauty of nature to enhance the film. So those groundbreaking classics must have come from flashes of inspiration...)
Mia
I remember this movie played on local TV. I stumbled upon it once during a holiday meal. The plot revolves around a scientist developing a drug that can make animals grow rapidly. As a result, the scientist's friend injects the drug, and his face becomes abnormally deformed and twisted. The enraged, deformed man tries to kill the scientist but accidentally shatters a glass container, causing a giant tarantula to escape from the laboratory. A town doctor is suspicious of the deformed man's death, and a female assistant from out of town, who has come to assist the scientist, gradually uncovers the scientist's secret. The carcasses of cattle and horses, eaten clean, and the scattered white, poisonous slime all over the ground, lead the doctor to suspect... (*Tarantula!*)
