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Parents' Guide to

Holy Spider

By Andrea Beach, Common Sense Media Reviewer

age 16+

Gripping, graphic Iranian thriller has violence, sex, drugs.

Movie NR 2023 118 minutes
Holy Spider movie poster: Styled like a mosaic of brightly colored tiles, a woman from the shoulders up with garish makeup wearing a hijab. The title is under her in Arabic script.

A Lot or a Little?

What you will—and won't—find in this movie.

Community Reviews

age 17+

Based on 1 parent review

age 17+

Missed potential

Adequately made but comes off more a generic psycho killer horror than a social exploration. The hardcore blow job was unnecessary and jarring considering how nothing else in the film is as graphic. Not very gruesome but disturbing brutal violence towards women. A couple scenes of drug use by prostitutes.

Is It Any Good?

Our review:
Parents say: (1 ):
Kids say: Not yet rated

This crime thriller does a good job of building and keeping up tension and suspense right to the very end. Dark atmospheres, horrific crimes, and gritty depictions of sex work and drug use are handled well by the solid cast. The characters feel authentic but aren't explored in depth. But the steady directing that keeps up the momentum will also keep viewers on the edge of their seats. Graphic depictions of sex, drug use, and violence make it unsuitable for kids.

Movie Details

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