 | ON: Content is age-appropriate for kids this age. |
 | PAUSE: Know your child; some content may not be right for some kids. |
 | OFF: Not age-appropriate for kids this age. |
 | NOT FOR KIDS: Not appropriate for kids any age. |
Eight Legged Freaks
- Review Date: May 19, 2003
- PG-13
- Genre: Thriller
- 2002
Common Sense Media says
Straight-out scarefest.
Parents say
QUALITY
Kids say
QUALITY
What parents need to know
Parents need to know that despite the smart-alecky title, this movie is not a comedy. It's a straight-out scarefest, and right up to the farthest edges of the PG-13 rating, with very explicit and gross violence and a lot of jump-out-at-you surprises. Characters are killed and eaten. In addition, a character chain-smokes, and there's some alcohol and some strong language. There's a reference to a teen pregnancy and to adultery. A teen girl is extremely clear about not being ready to have sex, despite pressure from a boy she likes very much, but parents may be concerned about her use of a stun gun to make her point. The female characters are tough and brave. One of the main characters is black, and although he's portrayed as a little paranoid and crazy, he's also brave and loyal.
What's the story?
In EIGHT LEGGED FREAKS, a small Arizona town is on the verge of going under, about to vote to sell the entire place for what the mayor says is a highway. But he has bad teeth and icky hair and is mean to his stepson, so don't believe him. Chris (David Arquette), the son of the man who owned the now-abandoned mine, has come back after 10 years, hoping to realize his father's dream of tapping into a gold vein and his own dream of finally telling the girl he loves (Kari Wuhrer), now the town sheriff, how he feels. A chemical spill and some undisclosed toxic waste transform an entire zoo of 200 exotic spiders into huge, hungry monsters the size of an SUV. The giant spiders chase the people, catching and eating many of them. At first, no one believes it, then they run away, try to hide, and then fight back.
Is it any good?
Eight Legged Freaks is essentially a cheesy 1950's sci-fi drive-in movie with un-cheesy special effects. There's no sense of irony and not much of a sense of humor. Instead, it has a rather sweet sense of pleasure in its own conventions, a sure sense of pacing, and some very impressive huge spiders. The plot is very simple, more computer game than story, but really a classic re-creation of movies like The Blob and World Without End.
And I guess we found out where that surprising hyphen came from in "Spider-Man." It's missing from the title of this movie, which makes it appear to be about eight creatures with legs.
What families can talk about
Families can talk about the different kinds of spiders, which are actually fascinating creatures who benefit humans by eating mosquitoes.
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AGE
Eight Legged Freaks
Awesome movie. Funny, but might be scary for arachnophobics.
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AGE
A little gross and gory but overall good...
Unless you are really afraid of spiders, this movie is not that scary. It has its gross moments and several people do die and are eaten by the spiders. Overall, it is a good movie in an ironic B Movie type of way.
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Kid, 12 years old
July 28, 2010
AGE
I thought the review to this dvd was the most stupid review I've ever seen.
There was mild violence and only one use of strong language,although some kids or adults may find this movie extremely disturbing,because it does have scenes of blood and gore and a lot of darkness in the background.
To any viewers who are reading this because your child has asked to watch this movie,I say don't say "no" because it didn't scare me at all.
Thx! :D
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AGE
okish movie that is a groosout scarfest!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
I watched this mvie a couple days ago and i have to say it's really scary.......
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Kid, 12 years old
October 8, 2011
AGE
Not scary,and unreal.
My 7 year old brother was they only one who liked it.
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AGE
Funny and scary, great combo
I completely disagree with the review for this. I thought it was hilarious and didn't take itself seriously at all. It's a fun little movie if you want a jump-out-of-your-seat-then-laugh scare. I enjoyed it, just don't think it's real or anything. Those with spider phobias may not want to watch though!
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| Studio: | Warner Bros. |
| Director: | Ellory Elkayam |
| Cast: | David Arquette, Doug E. Doug, Scarlett Johansson |
| Genre: | Thriller |
| Run time: | 95 minutes |
| Theatrical release date: | July 19, 2002 |
| DVD release date: | October 29, 2002 |
| MPAA rating: | PG-13 |
| MPAA explanation: | vivid, gross violence |
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