Search - The Giant Spider Invasion on DVD

MPAA Rating: PG Content Advisory: Violence, Suitable for Children Movie Release: 1975 DVD Release: 04/30/2002 Format: DVD SwapaDVD Credits: 1 Number of Discs: 1 Studio: Retromedia Entertainment Members Wishing: 1 Genres: Science Fiction, Horror, Sci-Fi Horror See Also: Giant Spider Invasion: Director's Cut

Bill Rebane's backyard wonder is a hilariously hokey throwback to the giant-monster flicks of the 50s, while taking its only pseudo-scientific conceit from the mid-70s trend of popular "black hole" theories, combining these two elements to create pure bad-movie heaven. A tiny, decrepit town in rural Wisconsin is rocked by a mysterious explosion, after which a drunken farmer (Robert Easton) discovers dozens of crystal geodes strewn across his property. Cracking each one open reveals a diamond-like encrustation (which to the farmer's dismay proves nearly worthless), as well as a hairy but decidedly un-cosmic tarantula. Being permanently soused, he fails to notice the latter (his equally boozy wife accidentally purees one in her daiquiri!) until the rocks begin opening on their own, and the entire farm is overrun with eight-legged invaders. Despite the title, only one of the spiders would qualify for giant status, but it's definitely a keeper: the Big Daddy arachnid is quite clearly a Volkswagen Beetle covered with black fake fur, with legs operated by the car's passengers and taillights doubling for glowing red eyes. Unfortunately, it is merely glimpsed through much of the film, making its triumphant appearance in the final few minutes. ~ Cavett Binion, All Movie Guide

Robert Easton - Dan Kester

Bill Rebane's tongue-in-cheek 1975 tribute to the science fiction movies of the fifties, The Giant Spider Invasion, comes to DVD with a standard full-frame transfer. The English soundtrack is rendered in Dolby Digital Stereo. There are neither subtitles nor closed-captions on this release. Supplemental materials include an interview with the director, and the original trailer. This Ventura release is highly recommended to genre enthusiasts. ~ Perry Seibert, All Movie Guide