Spider (2002)

Cronerberg is often considered the King of Venereal Horror in film world.His films are complex and brutal psychic study of the filth and bestial nature of human beings.It is difficult to watch his films. "The Fly"is one of his most talked about films which stars Jeff Goldblum in the lead role. "Spider" is not as disturbing as his other films usually do,but is intriguing. The movie stars Ralph Fiennes as a mentally disturbed person residing in a halfhouse where he hallucinates his childhood memories assuming himself to be a silent observer. Ralph Fiennes completely blows me away with his stupendous performance...... murmuring gibberish,scribbling nonsense in his diary..all seems so haunting and realistic.The way he handles the role,it shows his calibre as an artist of his business.Miranda Richardson also gives a quite unsettling performance, as the film goes by,you will understand and mark my words you will be totally in awe of her role.The film is justifiably genred as a horror,and horror is not always jumpscare.The gloomy atmosphere of halfway house with the perfect absorbing score by Howard Shore will hold you tight to the seat,the movie is slow, but it will gradually engulf you to it's centre.Cronerberg has wonderfully adapted his film from a novel by Patrick McGrath which is said equally absorbing.The film has tempted me to watch more of Cronerberg's works.

First of all, in order to fully appreciate Spider it requires more than a single viewing - at least 2 are necessary. Secondly,if you grew up in England, especially London, that would have helped, as many of the idioms spoken in this film, eg 'wicking' (as used by Yvonne Wilkinson - meaning 'annoying') were very much around in 1950s London. There are some other parochial phrases used which would be lost on most Americans. Curiously, looking at the subtitles for Spider a lot of the phrases have been wrongly interpreted, (probably compiled by Americans).Anyway, the first time I saw this, I didn't really get it either. At the same time I felt I hadn't given this film a proper chance, and when I did decide to revisit it I realized what a subtle, if strange and depressing movie it was. I've watched this several times since and on each occasion it became more fascinating, gradually dawning on me how much I'd missed in some of the more suggestive and important scenes. Eg, how many viewing this for the first time recognized that the actress playing Yvonne Wilkinson flashing her breast at young Spider, was not Miranda Richardson, who played Yvonne in all the subsequent scenes. There was a good reason for that of course. Also I realized why the imposing gasometer structure seen by Spider from his bedroom window seemed to terrify him. There are plenty of other examples. Once you notice what you missed first time around and more, you can appreciate this film so much better.But most viewers do not have the time or patience these days to allow a 'slow' film like Spider to develop, so naturally Spider will never see the light of day again for those with a short attention span. That's their loss though. You can make films about mental illness in a more entertaining way - eg. A Beautiful Mind. But in the end Spider digs that much deeper. Full credit to David Cronenberg for having the balls to make such an unconventional film, yet brilliant study of the schizophrenic mind. And needless to say Ralph Fiennes performance as the confused, mumbling Spider is extraordinary.

Spider is a fascinating story of a mentally ill man, released to a halfway house from a sanatorium, who attempts to piece together the events that led to his lengthy hospital stay. Along the way, reality and his memories clash, blend, and intertwine.At first, Spider (Ralph Fiennes) does not seem to be a prime candidate for release from a mental hospital. He speaks in tremulous mumbles, has a hunched-over limp, and frequently eyes the ground for items of interest. He takes up residence in a dilapidated group home run by the tyrannical Mrs. Wilkinson (Lynn Redgrave) and makes tentative friends with some of the residents, notably Terrence (John Neville).Spider has a small suitcase containing memories from his childhood and a journal in which he records his investigations into his past - in the sort of indecipherable scribble that even ancient Babylonians would consider illegible. Or maybe it was shorthand. Either way, Joe Viewer won't be able to read it.He flashes back to his days living with his doting mother (Miranda Richardson) and loutish father (Gabriel Byrne). Little Spider, who seems different somehow, looks to be more of an obstacle to his father, who frequently needs "rescuing" from the local pub around dinner time. His father's lifestyle and mother's lack of empowerment lead to a short sequence of events that ends in tragedy, something the viewer only learns late in the film.But the mystery of Spider's past is only part of the story. Cronenberg deftly moves between the past and present; in many scenes, grown-up Spider watches events involving his younger self, at least the way he remembered it. The temporal fugue allows Spider a new perspective on his past and fills in gaps in his memories. But it's really a test of his own mental faculties: after facing up to what happened all of those years ago, is he truly ready for society? Why is he in a halfway house? Why this one in particular? Fiennes is aces, as is Richardson in a dual role. I loved seeing John Neville, if only in a few scenes, and even Gabriel Byrne does an okay job. That's not easy for Gabriel Byrne.

A number of reviewers rate this movie as "the best ever" and "masterpiece" etc etc. The point is that this movie is listed as a thriller, so you expect a thriller but it is not. It's more like a very slow, did I say slow? I mean a very very very slow movie about a man that lost his mind as a child. Although the acting is quite good and the setting of the movie very authentic, the slow pace is just annoying. And yes, even if you are a real fan of cult,drama and historic films. Do not believe people so easily that announce "the plot and climax of the film are fantastic". Half way the movie you already know what happened and why, if you are a fan of mysteries and thriller books and movies. If you liked "The Machinist" (http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0361862/) for example, don't expect to like this one or think that this is in the same genre.