Eight Legged Freaks

As hinted at by the title, Eight Legged Freaks is one of those all-too-rare ’50s-styled giant-spider monster B-movies, set in a Nevada shithole where a collection of exotic spiders become exposed to toxic waste, which naturally makes them grow to fifty times their normal size and set about terrifying the local human population.

Though the film’s promotional posters are trading heavily on the ‘brought to you by the makers of Independence Day and Godzilla’ aspect, you shouldn’t let that put you off: 8LF is more of a Gremlins-style affair than either of those two torpid projects, infused throughout with a mischievous sense of humour and a steady supply of hide-behind-the-seat moments. Tarantulas trash trailer-parks and cause their residents to take up chainsaws, shotguns and pitchforks in self-defence: it’s a lot of fun to behold, depending on your tastes. Ex-MTVJ Kari Wuhrer makes a convincing action heroine as the local sheriff, and there’s a delightfully sinister cameo from Tom Noonan(TV’s CSI).

Genuinely runs Spiderman close as 2002’s top spider-flick.