15/31
Frank: I don’t think spiders make good pets
Story
After secretly raising a disturbingly talented spider, 12-year-old Charlotte must confront the truth about her pet – and fight for her family’s survival – when the once-charming creature quickly transforms into a massive, flesh-eating monster. When Ethan asks Frank why he carries a nail gun, since he’s an exterminator, Frank replies “safety.” The nail gun is likely a reference to Arachnophobia (1990), another film about carnivorous spiders, in which the main character finishes off one of the creatures with a nail gun, although the action is supposed to take place in New York, in an Australian setting, door handles in the US are about 3 feet off the ground, here the handles are halfway up the door. Showing a street view, cars are parked on the “wrong side” of the street compared to the US.
You know, spiders don’t have the ability to love
A spider only knows two things: eat and kill. During the closing credits, it is revealed that Bonnie’s dog survived Sting’s abduction. Includes Frankenstein (1931).
What a Day to Die Written by: Patricia H
Ericson Publisher: Cradle Rocks & Low Tide Music Performed by: The Pleasure Seekers Courtesy of d2 Music o/b/o Cradle Rocks Records. Sting really wasn’t supposed to be a space spider, shouldn’t have to explain so much, and despite its short running time, it has major pacing issues. It takes too long to get to the good stuff, and then it ends abruptly, but a strong cast, a few scary kills, and a bit of well-meaning alien love make this an entertaining one-off.
They care for each other lovingly, while at times struggling to communicate properly
Alyla Browne and Ryan Corr are the heart of the film, while Jermaine Fowler is sparingly used comic relief. The arc they’re in has a few surprises, which isn’t a problem because it gives the movie some stakes, makes you fall in love with them, and helps you stay invested in their survival. Kiah Roache-Turner’s direction gives the film a kitschy tone that helps as much as it hinders.
The start to finish creates a solid hook, and the scares are at their strongest when they’re really nasty
Brad Shield’s cinematography spans the impressive sets, giving the film an energy that almost makes up for how slow it is.
