It’s tempting to sigh “they don’t make ’em like they used to,” but that complaint—often overstated—has a kernel of truth when it comes to PG-rated horror. Films that deliver genuine scares while remaining family-friendly were once a staple, particularly during the 1980s. Those lighter-but-still-frightening blockbusters are far rarer today. They used to be everywhere.
Thankfully, the classics remain. One standout is 1990’s Arachnophobia, an impeccably produced, creepy-crawly entry from Amblin Entertainment that sits comfortably alongside Poltergeist, Gremlins, and The Goonies. It marks Frank Marshall’s directorial debut, with production by Kathleen Kennedy and executive production by Steven Spielberg—an Amblin pedigree that promised mainstream polish, well-timed thrills, and a touch of offbeat charm.
Arachnophobia embodies many hallmarks of the Amblin style: sweeping helicopter and crane shots, lush golden-hour cinematography, a buoyant score, and a cast of quirky character actors. It’s a film that pits the tidy comforts of suburban life—station wagons, wine cellars, and cozy wood houses—against a creeping natural menace, and does so with an amiable mix of humor and suspense.
The premise is disarmingly straightforward: “Spiders are terrifying, right?” Marshall resists the urge to weaponize giant arachnids; the threat here is potent because the spiders remain small and believable. A South American research expedition led by Dr. James Atherton (Julian Sands) inadvertently brings back an extremely venomous spider species. In a rural California town the newcomer breeds with local spiders, spawning a multiplying, lethal infestation. Only Ross Jennings (Jeff Daniels), an arachnophobic family doctor who’s recently moved from San Francisco, recognizes the pattern—yet his Ivy League background and outsider status make the townspeople wary. John Goodman provides a memorably oddball turn as a laconic exterminator who delivers much of the comic relief.
One of the film’s more astonishing details is its use of real spiders—around 300 Avondale spiders sourced from New Zealand were employed on set, often crawling into frame on cue for close-ups. The danger feels credible not because the creatures are oversized but because the filmmakers exploit their smallness: they skitter across faces, descend on threads, and disappear beneath floorboards, creating persistent unease. Marshall reserves his most effective scares for a sustained final act in which an army of arachnids invades the Jennings household through vents and cracks, culminating in a surreal, darkly comic showdown in a fiery basement.
Arachnophobia isn’t for true arachnophobes, and it will likely leave spider aficionados unimpressed—but for most viewers it remains a terrific time: a durable example of a period when filmmakers could terrify younger audiences while still keeping the experience broadly accessible.
Where to watch: Stream on Tubi, or rent/buy on Apple TV, Amazon, and other digital platforms.
Polygon’s annual Halloween Countdown is a 31-day series of short picks highlighting the best horror films, shows, TV episodes, and online specials to stream for the season. You can find the full calendar here.
Source: Polygon
