Spiderhole and Becoming Trapped in Tragedy : A Movie Review

Spiderhole UK Artwork

Director/writer: Daniel Simpson.

Tagline: "Forgive us our trespasses."

Spiderhole is an Irish shot horror film, which released on DVD in the United Kingdom March 21st. The term spiderhole, in nature, is a trap used by arachnids to lure unwary prey for feeding. In director Daniel Simpson's film, an abandoned house in London is used in much the same way, to lure unsuspecting victims. Then, the feelings aroused by this horror film are fear and pity, with Spiderhole showing its story to be partially sourced from tragedy (genre).

Identifying will four break-and-entering squatters is not an easy task. Zoe (Amy Noble), Molly (Emma Griffiths Malin), Toby (George Maguire), and Luke (Reuben-Henry Biggs) soon find themselves trespassers, as they drink themselves into a stupor. They awake to find a house which has trapped them within. Simpson's writing constantly keeps the tension and the suspense up, through mystery. The intrigue is also developed through the situation that the group finds themselves in and through the unknown actions of "The Captor" (John Regan). In the beginning, you just do not know whether the source of the threat to the group is supernatural, or more humanly based. The motivations of an aging surgeon are suspect, as well.

Cinematographer Vinit Borrison (Heartstopper) is creating a tragic/horrifying mood through the colours of the film. The house in which the group become trapped within is darkly lit and the atmosphere signals that this will be a haunted house styled film. This is only partly the case.

One element that makes this film tragic is the premise of the film. Do several squatters deserve to die in an abandoned house, by scalpel and slow dissection? This answer will be left up to viewers, but image being inside a locked house while your friends quickly disappear to screams, one by one. You have no hope of exit and there are bins full of victim's body parts. If you do not feel some pity for these characters, then your blood runs colder than Shakespeare's Scottish King, Macbeth.

Spiderhole is one of the best horror films that this reviewer has seen, in quite some time. The atmosphere is developed in dark tones and through the dire situation. As well, there is mystery and suspense, which are both necessary elements of the horror and tragedy genres. Just steel yourself for a revealing ending, which is the most tragic and bloody of all!

Overall: 7.75-8 (good writing, good pacing, a nice, short, concise runtime and a good tragedy).

A positive review of Spiderhole at Love Horror (UK based):

Spiderhole Reviewed by Zombie1

Join the film's fan page on Facebook for a release date in North America:

Spiderhole on Facebook

The film's website is here:

Spiderhole's Official Website

Spiderhole memorabilia is located below and the film can be purchased at the United Kingdom version of Amazon. Pick this one up, for something a little different:



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Posted in: 2011,amy noble,daniel simpson,emma griffiths malin,george maguire,haunted house,haunted house movie review,movie review,reuben-henry biggs,spiderhole,tragedy