Arachnophobia - Movie Review

Chris Stuckmann reviews Arachnophobia, starring Jeff Daniels, Harley Jane Kozak, John Goodman, Julian Sands. Directed by Frank Marshall.

[@rwaters11]

Legit checked the shower for spiders every day for about 10 years after watching this

[@derekpeterson7412]

And the toilet. 😮

[@jakerios27]

The bed sheets for sure 😂

[@polreamonn]

It was the burglars breaking in through your wondows you should have been watching out for.

[@Irlydntcare]

I once had to take a shower in the basement and not one, but two spiders came out of nowhere. I still have nightmares. Never used that shower again.

[@rwaters11]

@@Irlydntcare id do the same. Its their shower now 😂

[@H3rnD1zzl3]

Your reaction when the spider jumped on the woman in the shower was something I had to rewind five times because it was so hilarious! Thanks for torturing yourself for this review and a Happy Halloween!

[@DeanH92]

I met Julian Sands at Horror Con UK in 2022, which turned out to be his last convention ever. I asked about this film, and he had very fond memories of working with Jeff Daniels and John Goodman. I remember him saying that they were very professional.

[@angelkiller]

RIP Julian Sands.

[@DeanH92]

@@angelkiller Very sad what happened.

[@garethhanby]

@@DeanH92 He died doing what he loved, so it wasn't that sad. Sad for his sons.

[@DeanH92]

@@garethhanby I’m gay

[@SSuillin]

​@@DeanH92why did you write that lolol.... Julian sands was great though two very good performances he did arachnophobia and also killing fields.

[@cpz1019]

The scene where the spiders crawling out of the sink has always bothering me. So thanks for including it… twice

[@celeboria]

"They bite?" "They kill, Mr. Manley, in sufficient numbers."

[@tjwsports]

This movie is a loose adaptation of Bram Stoker’s novel Dracula with the Spider as the vampire.

[@StillTheVoid]

The Audience: 😭😭

[@djufu1]

This movie TRAUMATIZED me as a child!!!!! It’s the reason I have arachnophobia!

[@Kabosche]

Well, you didn't HAVE to buy it. (Sorry, couldn't resist!😂)

[@XSAGA87]

You and me both, this movie will never ever leave my brain.

[@beinteractive3207]

Same 😅

[@Xavier-ty4jw]

Dude what were you expecting then?

[@FelipeKana1]

Same but I managed to cure myself. How? Well there were a lot of spiders in my college campus' woods (and I was studying Biology, so it did come up a lot). I knew these spiders were safe, so one day I tried to have one bite me, in order to lose the fear. I manage to catch one with my hands but it wouldn't bite me at all. It kept trying to run away. Now, that could've been enough to heal my arachnophobia, and probably will suffice to many, but I was expecting a physical/ organic interaction, so I decided that I had to eat it. And I did it. I smashed it slightly with a rock first (so it wouldn't bite me inside my mouth or run between my teeth, but that was probably unnecessary), and ate it on the spot. It was crunchy and a bit sweet with an new aftertaste. It didn't made me sick or anything later. So, yeah, no more fear.

[@jcaashby3]

RIP Julian Sands loved all his movies when I was a kid...movies like Warlock.

[@WarlordRising]

Warlock is amazing. An adult version of Harry Potter way before Potter existed.

[@1982maxgill]

Warlock The Armageddon Is my favourite!

[@TailoredTaylor]

I loved his character in Rose Red. I was shocked when he was pronounced missing on his hike and then his death announcement. RIP

[@SSuillin]

He's in the TV edition of Rose red ?! That's cool. I loved Sands in the Killing fields ​@@TailoredTaylor

[@vudujl83]

just LOVE this movie…and it still holds up all these decades later

[@ImSrry4BeingWhite]

Same! When i was a kid i watched it all the time. I just rewatched it as a 32 year old man and it freaking holds up!! I adore this film 🎥 🍿

[@kylelawrence2887]

My wife and I randomly watched this the other day, and I couldn't believe how well it held up. Great review, great pull from the archives!

[@leatherface964]

Chris has been on point with these retro reviews. Loved this film growing up

[@1982maxgill]

R.I.P Julian Sands! One of my favourite actors!

[@Legato-2057]

I saw this in the theater. I was so scared, I walked out. I was 11.

[@StillTheVoid]

I remember seeing this film syndicated on a weekend afternoon and the very rare moments our family gathrered around as we haven't heard or seen in its entirety. Something about the heyday of Universal/MCA days of practical effects and professionally produced pictures of this time period that made me appreciate the hard work the team was aiming for. Aside from Warlock, Arachnophobia had always been a highlight of Julian Sands talent here even though he had very little screen time. It's hard to believe his untimely death occurred out of unknown circumstance by being lost. Also, it was the film that made us fell in love with John Goodman...man I wish he was still active today.

[@apoplexiamusic]

I’ve wondered for so long why nobody on KZbin talks about this movie. I remember seeing parts of it when i was young

[@jp3813]

There are a number of reactions, actually.

[@johnsmith651]

This movie is underrated. It fantastically blends horror but with a lighter touch. It also has great production values

[@libralynx98]

This film is the reason I don't have arachnophobia!! I always saw Jeff Daniels and John Goodman as comedic actors as a kid so I thought it was supposed to be a comedy movie for the longest time (ahhh the mind of a child)!!! LOVE IT

[@SSuillin]

Well it is somewhat of a 'comic horror' a genre type I'm fond of

[@TiagoNomad]

The scene where the old lady is going to turn her lamp off and a spider jumps on her hand is what, to this day, makes me check a lamp every time I get near one. 😅

[@WhatAboutZoidberg]

Yea, this movie triggered my Arachnophobia that is still strong to this day. It's just SO effective with the real spiders they chose to use in this. It convinced me spiders would attack me, even though I know they will always prefer to run and hide. I had to rewatch it again a few years ago because I forgot how amazing John Goodman is in this movie, he chews up the scenes with panache. The movie is actually so good I can get through the rest.

[@mikeedward9595]

I saw "Arachnophobia" at a second-run theater in south Texas in 1991, and the back of the theater was infested with crickets. I could hear the scraping of their exoskeletons as they crawled across each other. That truly added to the atmosphere of the film. "Arachnophobia" is a 90s gem that doesn't get enough credit.

[@CaspisSinclair27]

You're absolutely correct about the shot of the house near the end! ILM did the cg for that single shot of all the spiders crawling on the home.

[@visionarylocomotiveworks9703]

A genuinely fantastic film that deserves more praise. Both Jeff Daniels and John Goodman knock it out of the park with their performances, and manages to be incredibly funny as well as terrifyingly uncomfortable.

[@SSuillin]

I think Goodman has an unintended fun double bill with regards to this film and then 10 Cloverfield lane.

[@MrDrezzy007]

This and Eight Legged Freaks have a special place in my heart.

[@anubusx]

Madame Web is the scariest spider film.

[@SSuillin]

Even David arquette providing the hotness and the laughs couldn't make myself watch that one. Jesus. After seeing a few scenes from arachnophobia and all the web plus the dangling spiders when I caught it on TV

[@SSuillin]

​@@anubusxha ha

[@bmav007]

This movie is so underrated! A fascinating premise, and Really one of the only good spider movies ever made.

[@iamzeppoluvr]

Julian Sands 😍😍😍😍😍😍😍😍. Thanks for the review, sir.

[@RetroChaos]

I remember watching Arachnophobia on repeat on VHS when I was younger. Such a good movie!!

[@cheryloconnor-nz]

I am with you Chris on this movie, I watched it years ago and it freaked me out so much I had nightmares for years after! It's one of those films that scares the bejeezus out of you if you have an irrational fear of spiders. If very well done.😱

[@imaguy123]

Same. I still have periodic nightmares about them

[@johnjsal]

LOL, Chris sounds just like me. I actually put off watching this very video until now because I didn't even want to see the thumbnail. I watched most of it (this video, not the movie) with my eyes looking down away from the monitor, and once I accidentally saw a shot of one of the tarantulas, I literally screamed, "God!" and shut my eyes for the rest of the video. I just wanted to hear what he had to say about it anyway!

[@AmpND]

I love horror movies, I have arachnophobia. I have seen this movie exactly once as an adult and I screamed and yelled through most of it. This review had me screaming and squirming in my seat. Thanks Chris...

[@endrankluvsda4loko172]

I appreciate these videos of older movies. Of course a movie reviewer will be watching/reviewing mostly newer stuff, but since I never really go to see new movies, it's just cool to see reviews of movies I've actually seen.

[@squamish4244]

I like how the film opens with the "Indigenous person whose tribe has lived there for centuries warns arrogant white man not to go to certain place, but he does anyway" trope. Julian Sands was perfect as that dude, as a British guy who played arrogant very well and it eventually got him killed And I'd read about the tepui of Venezuela and knew they really were that isolated and there really were unexplored, isolated ravines that deep in one of the most isolated places on earth. Many, many people have died looking for El Dorado somewhere around there. (And the area still is very isolated to this day, which fortunately is protecting all the rainforest there.)

[@BriannaMoore-h7l]

Your editing is perfect, loved it!

[@danbh84]

Go away spam

[@winkletter]

Surprisingly, I couldn't find an "Arachnophobia Without The Spiders" cut on KZbin.

[@leviathan8215]

OK but that would be a really funny movie about a bunch of people reacting to literally nothing

[@w415800]

Is there a Jurassic Park cut without the dinosaurs?

[@anubusx]

lol Is there a version of The Birds without any birds?

[@libbybarr4844]

I was 10 when this came out and love it to this day. The coat hook scene is a fave. The end credits song is so much fun. And I have always been enamoured with Julian Sands RIP 🕷️

[@91137732]

Finally a review of one of my favorite movies of all time

[@MikeN_LA]

One of my favorite childhood movies. Always watched it when they would air on tv. 🕸️🕷️

[@WhosTheMorley]

Rocking Roll 😂 Love John Goodman in this movie!

[@crobinson2624]

Great movie. A lot of people forget that the spider in the film isn’t a black widow but a newly discovered spider from South America that mated with a common north American spider. 😅

[@07foxmulder]

5:58 that might be Stuckmann’s funniest moment lol

[@donbrunodelamancha1927]

I have, what can be kindly called severe, arachnophobia, so I have only seen this film once, and even though I loved it, I simply could not stay in my seat for long periods of time. That is the quality of this film! I am certain it holds up. I do not fear other insects…. My 11th of your Halloween Specials, and they get better every year. Miss Sam’s participation. Algorithm engagement!

[@jmason61]

FUNNY! Good on ya for reviewing creepy films in October, the decorations in my town are sooo cool this year! Now will have to check out Infested...

[@j-rey-]

I love your reviews Chris, especially your longer ones and your horror movie reviews during Halloween season. Hopefully you can get around to another long form analysis someday, like the ones you did for It Comes at Night and Enemy. Happy Halloween. I hope the veil between the living and the dead is particularly thin for you this spooky season ⚰️💀🔪🎃🧟‍♂️

[@victorpereni2257]

I'm brazilian and I watch your videos to improve my english. 💡

[@TimoFromNorway]

"I'm a filmmaker too, so I refuse to criticize anything about this movie."

[@MontgomeryPaulon]

Who are you quoting? I don’t remember him ever saying that. You made it up fool

[@jayge17]

One of my top 10 of all time that doesn't get talked about often enough. And one of the best third acts EVER. Two things I love about the film. One is that while Jaws made people scared of the ocean, Psycho the shower, etc, Arachnophobia achieved this feat with showers, lamp shades, popcorn, toilets, slippers, and much more! The 2nd thing I love is the simple story of a character having to face his fear and overcome it - maybe similar to Chief Brody facing hid fear of the water in Jaws. Ok, Jeff Daniel's character will probably always still have the fear, but he pushes through long enough to be the hero and save the day!

[@jeremyr722]

Just watched this two nights ago and live tweeted it with my Twitter friends. We had a blast. This is a seriously fun movie.

[@dubbleosevin]

Regarding Chris' remarks pertaining to the helicopter photography within Arachnophobia: I was very fortunate to see Arachnophobia on opening weekend at a Kirkwood, Missouri cinema projecting it in 70 millimeter; WOW I still remember how we as the viewing audience moved our heads collectively from one side of the screen to the other tracking the path of the helicopter across the massive width of the screen during those scenes! Of course the spiders seemed to leap off the screen as well and the surround sound "acid burn" effects heard during spider bites also added to a most memorable Arachnophobia 70 millimeter theatrical viewing experience on it's opening weekend.

[@sansthedrummer]

To sum up the movie: any place you don't want to find a spider in your home, there's one hiding there in the movie. I was terrified of spiders as a kid, but I actually loved this movie when I was 11. Definitely made the phobia much more manageable.

[@athenajaxon2397]

That scene of the spider watching him is ingrained in my memory. I rewatched as an adult and was surprised how well it held up

[@mizzle8]

I caught this movie as a kid one late night on some channel and was hooked - I remember turning the volume way down hoping my parents wouldn’t wake up and find out I was still watching TV. I still think of it as one of my foundational introductions to horror (and also haven’t rewatched it to this day because those spiders were SCARY.)

[@alisamiller6102]

I watched this in college in 2014 my roommate wanted to watch horror for all of October and our room was the spot and they all fell asleep when this movie was on and i was up all alone watching this and OMG!!! Traumatized never watched again. I was hesitant just to click this video because i knew there be clips. Thank you Chris for also sharing the same fear with me haha

[@brockst9190]

Omg I love this movie. Props for the video, never really see people talk about this movie

[@isaiahunzickermusic]

This is my favorite Chris era

[@Agent-wn7le]

I like your hoodie 😁!

[@c1ph3rpunk]

I’ve always been in the odd group with arachnids, I find them fascinating & cool. I let them have the run of the garage shop, within reason, keeps the bugs down in the months I leave the door open. Saw this in the theater with a date, when the spider appears I said “awh, it’s cute” and got an evil stare from my date, never saw her again. This is one of those I consider the “irrational” part of what a phobia is defined as, the vast majority of arachnids will leave you alone. You’re statistically more likely to be in a car accident than bitten by a spider, do you have automobilephobia? Ophidiophobia on the other hand, that’s not irrational, snakes are the devil’s work.

[@utterlyviolet]

@c1ph3rpunk But snakes eat mice, and scare off other animals you don't want in your home. I'm not saying don't be scared of them, but know they have a purpose. Some snakes eat spiders. Some spiders eat snakes.

[@c1ph3rpunk]

@@utterlyviolet my cat takes care of the mice. In the immortal words of Professor Jones, “snakes, why’d it have to be snakes. I hate snakes”.

[@KarlTheExpert]

I most definitely am afraid of other drivers when on the road. Can't trust any of 'em. 😮

[@c1ph3rpunk]

@@KarlTheExpert I work in Chicago and LA, they’re actively trying to hurt you in those places. I am far more afraid of humans than spiders as well. Interstate on-ramps are my favorite, getting on the Dan Ryan when the entry light turns green is more like a 1/4 mile drag race than commuting home. Except the other race car is also trying to stop you, cut you off, perhaps even push you off the road. Stock car 1/4 mile we’ll call it.

[@LoyaltotheNightsky]

I am terrified of spiders emotionally, but very interested in and appreciative of them logically. People can definitely do both, and be scared of them, but not "hate" them. I never enjoy when fellow arachnophobes gleefully talk about killing em.

[@martinprehn9353]

great film. And don't forget that soundtrack by Trevor Jones - so good, and oddly romantic/adventurous in that Jurassic park kind of way.

[@thewrestlingoldhead]

I watched this recently. Still holds up. Loved the practical effects and i could have sworn there was more John Goodman in the movie.

[@kakarot5832]

You broke this down wonderfully

[@santos8468]

I want to point out how creative the score is, particularly early on. I'm talking about when it transitions from the jungle to the small town.

[@bendanzi8338]

I've always said this is essentially a perfect movie. Not necessarily going to be in anyone's top 50 of all time but perfect in the sense that it executes its goals perfectly. The setups all pay off really well. The effects/action sequences are incredibly well done especially for the time. The characters' motivations are all clear and believable. There's compelling drama provoked by the spiders in Daniels' personal life. Always loved this movie and hope more people watch it. Also, have to look up at the curtain rod in my shower everyday now because of this fucking movie.

[@laura-maejames3424]

This was one of the first "horror" movies I was allowed to watch as a kid. I loved it then and I think it still holds up now. Watching your reactions was funny but I'm sorry you feel that way about all bugs. I watched Dolly Dearest shortly after watching this as a kid and I knew I didn't like dolls before but after watching that, I didn't even wanna go near them.

[@Spectoral_on_SPOTIFY]

This was one hilarious review 😂

[@SirSmoldham]

Saw this in the theater with a constantly screaming audience. Loved it. Great score by Trevor Jones.

[@joonlee7884]

Chris grew up gripping it during movies

[@skeksilthechamberlain1479]

Finally, Arachnophobia gets some recognition as a classic. I loved this movie as a kid when it was on TV and I love it even more as an adult.

[@waynro]

6:00 the delivery was perfect 😂🤌🏼

[@stormshadowproductions1660]

This and 8 legged freaks are both really good and really fun spider theme horror movies while also being sort of a comedy

[@patrickshea9392]

So I'd never heard of infested but I watched a few clips after you mentioned it. I work in a wastewater treatment plant and there are some areas of the plant that look kinda like that hallway with webs all around the room and spiders crawling all over. Not to that extent but pretty damn creepy if you hate spiders. This time of year where I live they are really active. Dozens hanging over every doorway. Probably not too fun for a lot of people. Anyways, love the channel!

[@darthmig1328]

Saw it at the cinema when it came out. Loved it then. Watched it recently with my sister, she had never seen it. We both loved it.

[@jameslawrencezenci8453]

The tension in this movie is second to none. Movie still holds up. Great movie

[@theleafactor]

omg you putting in that clip at 7:01 literally made me scream and my parents yelled up "DID YOU SEE A SPIDER?!" 😅😅😅😅😅😅 basically Mom...basically ☠☠

[@thedude1562]

I saw this at a drive in the first time. It's one of those first viewing experiences I wish I could do over. Love this movie.

[@joshcannon3073]

One of my all time childhood favorites 💜

[@edwardwright2989]

I saw this in theaters in 1990 with my mom and sister. A great memory and the movie still holds up. Very solid film.

[@morneschaap2944]

The cup scene was also a freak-our for me. This movie is soooʻ awesome! 😊

[@blkcat93]

There was a "how it was made" on this is watched with great interest. Training or guiding the spiders was fascinating. They used hair dryers to get them to move in certain directions. I forget what type of spiders were used.

[@feuryie]

seeing your reactions even thinking about bugs is fun

[@KrimsonKracker]

This truly is a borderline masterpiece of the "suspense-thriller" genre!

[@AdamSweeneyMetaphysics]

I watched it as a kid in the 90s and it had its effects. I wish I could watch it again to appreciate the story and characters more as an adult but I could barely make it through this review.

[@swedishZ0mBi3]

Oh this was fun, I like your comedy here Chris! I might have to watch this film...If I dare :o

[@ianlampe1502]

I love the old-school craft brought here, it's masterfully paced and it's a solid B-Movie creature feature that also came out to the same year as Tremors. Also, this movie has a comic book adaptation, so check that out.

[@JordanDC87]

Damn it. Great video. I love and fear this movie. Infested got me really bad earlier this year aswell. I seen this movie when I was a kid and I was convinced every spider could jump. I was terrified

[@MyNamelsBlue]

Man I love the Halloween selection this year

[@skylarthoma5353]

This time I'm glad I played this in a different tab 🙈 thanks for watching this Chris so that I don't have to!

[@mikegonzalez503]

The spider coming from the lamp still gets me sometimes

[@012gage]

Watching this around 5 years old in the 90s is the reason till this day I’ve been scared of spiders. Well done, you made a traumatizing movie for me 😭 lol

[@zadehgenerous9331]

This is one of the last blu rays i picked up from Best Buy before they got rid of physical media. I remember it fondly from my childhood!

[@MaxMilly_85]

pound for pound the most effective scary movie ever

[@middleschoolgravy]

I love this movie and I’m especially fond of it because I remember my mom letting me stay home from school one day and then taking me to see this. I would have been 7 btw. I’ve wanted to dress as John Goodman in this for Halloween ever since. One of these days.

[@NiGHTS1980]

I saw this movie as a kid and never watched it again. Also, I live in Australia.

[@jacquespoulemer]

Hi Chris, I love your channel and the way you analyze things but as you are spidey-phobic, I'm extremely face distortion phobic (extends to clowns). I wasn't always this way. back in the 1960s I'd buy those horror mags but one day I was laughing at it and the next I threw it to the ground and couldn't look at it. So forgive me if I don't watch more of you're content but I do get nightmares from the wrong stuff. All the best to you and the Mrs for the new year. Jacques Mexico. a fan who sometimes says Noooo oooo ooo ! hehehe

[@michael_weer]

No offense to Chris because he’s one of the 🐐 film reviewers on YT. But I couldn’t help but think that at least half a review was missing in this video. I know Chris won’t be critical in a negative way to films anymore, but I felt like his review was really ramping up and getting good when he abruptly ended it. I appreciate the content we get from Chris but I wish we got more. 😢

[@auntvesuvi3872]

Thanks, Chris! 🕷 I saw this one on the big screen.

[@FrenchCreekFilms]

Fun review! 👍🏻❤🎬

[@MainelyMandy]

Oh god, I have pretty intense arachnaphobia and I remember seeing this at a young age. The scene where the spider comes down from the lamp shade scared me so bad and I am always nervous around lamps with any kind of covering because of it. I haven't revisited it as an adult but think I might have to try and challenge myself with it.

[@marjoleinsmolders1630]

If someone told me "you will be a famous actress, you will make millions of dollars, all you have to do is stand in the shower and have a spider jump on your face" NO THANKS, PASS!!! 😂

[@rpena0899]

Arachnophobia is sooo much fun! It has great comedic elements in it that help diffuse the tension and man oh man there are sooo many real spiders in this its awesome!

[@kyleisreal_tv]

I just watched this 3 days ago with some buddy’s in discord. How weird you are doing a review but awesome

[@rezmstrs]

I love that this film keeps with the signature AMBLIN feel of adventure

[@qrowreznov5087]

This movie permanently gave me a fear of spiders still to this day.

[@bocowan9106]

You should totally do Bats next year!