Spider Baby remake… oy…

Last Updated on July 27, 2021

A week back when The Arrow asked me to provide him with a Halloween pick, I was torn between two flicks: THE EXORCIST III and SPIDER BABY. I went with the former only because I figured I should choose a film that is genuinely scary (and under appreciated), although the kooky, kinky, totally insane SPIDER BABY was a film that I myself actually watched on October 31 (miss ya already, Halloween).

If you’re unfamiliar with it – GET familiar with it! It’s such a strange ride that I won’t waste much time describing it. Just know that Rob Zombie obviously borrowed inspiration (and actor Sid Haig) from it when he was making HOUSE OF 1000 CORPSES – although SPIDER BABY is a far superior, funnier, and weirder movie.

So of course it’s getting a remake, and I can’t be too bitter about it, because it’s providing me with a forum to recommend the original to you. Unfortunately, the bad might outweigh the good in this case, because the people attached are, shall we say, unwelcome guests. The director is Jeff Broadstreet, the writer is Robert Valding, and the two of them last combined forces to churn out that 3D NIGHT OF THE LIVING DEAD remake, a movie I have yet to hear a positive thing about. (It just caught a scathing review from our own Donny Broussard.)

What makes this somewhat bearable is that the original director, Jack Hill, seems to be involved as a producer, and Haig will likely appear in the “harried butler” role originally inhabited by Lon Chaney (great performance, by the way). In the original, a young Haig plays “Ralph,” one of three freaky siblings who… that’s right, I’m not going to divulge too much…

Apparently the film has a budget in the 3-5 mil range, which is fine for a story that rarely leaves the old musty house it’s set in. Look, let’s not worry about this too much, if Broadstreet’s track record is any indication, it will take about 3 years for this thing to be released. PLENTY of time for you to check out the original.