Rating summary

Movie		4.0
Video		4.0
Audio		4.5
Extras		3.5
Overall		4.0

Big Ass Spider! Blu-ray Movie Review

Sharknado can suck it.

Reviewed by Brian Orndorf December 27, 2013

B-movies don’t have it easy these days. Thank the SyFy Channel, who’ve built a brand name on obvious schlock, constantly ruining the fun with their formula of intentional absurdity and dangerously low budgets, hoping to transform the network into a year-long meme that attracts the attention of social media watchmen and the easily entertained. SyFy has gone out of their way to take the zip out of bottom shelf discoveries, making the bluntly titled “Big Ass Spider!” even more of a surprise. From the outside looking in, the feature resembles yet another backyard creation hoping to create a monster movie ruckus with limited resources, armed with shaky CGI and a wink-happy sense of humor. However, “Big Ass Spider!” proves to be a real charmer with a professional sense of cinematic duty, deftly merging mayhem with chuckles as writer Gregory Gieras and director Mike Mendez set out to reclaim the tattered subgenre with some degree of invention and a belief in the simplistic screen power of a giant spider invasion.

Alex (Greg Grunberg) is an amiable exterminator who believes in capturing, not killing, his prey, pleasing longtime customers such Mrs. Jefferson (Lin Shaye). Bitten by a spider while on duty, Alex makes his way to the local hospital for treatment, meeting overconfident security guard Jose (Lombardo Boyar). In the bowels of the facility, a spider with unique abilities breaks free from the chest of the dead man, beginning a rapid growth period that results in a surge of concern. Volunteering to take out the arachnid, Alex finds evidence of a sizable troublemaker spinning flammable webs, soon calling on Jose for help. Breaking up the investigation is Major Turner (Ray Wise), a government official who has some idea of the danger that lies ahead, setting up camp to monitor the whereabouts of the crafty spider. Off to stop the menace on their own, Alex and Jose track the deadly creature around Los Angeles, while Lieutenant Brant (“Doug Loves Movies” legend, Clare Kramer) provides militaristic support, falling for the exterminator and his unexpected acts of heroism as he sets out to save the world.

As one might gather from the insistent title, “Big Ass Spider!” isn’t a subtle creation that takes the premise seriously. However, the effort isn’t a lark either, showing a great deal of respect for monster movie history, also embracing the benefits of a short run time (80 minutes) and a ripping pace. Even without money, Mendez manages to find a rhythm to the feature, keeping the work simple and efficient, refusing to weigh the film down with needless subplots and pauses for debate. “Big Ass Spider!” even manages to survive the trendy use of flash-forwarding, commencing the effort with a piano-driven version of the Pixies hit, “Where is My Mind?” It’s a poetic starter pistol on an endeavor that could bury itself in irony, yet the helmer doesn’t take the bait, getting the picture up and running in an interesting manner, promising a viewing experience that deviates from the routine in small but significant ways.

Have no fear, the basics are tended to in “Big Ass Spider!” After all, the title promises so much, and the movie delivers on its arachnid exploits, witnessing “stages” of growth as the spider develops into a mean machine of terror, harpooning victims with its enormous legs, melting the face of one poor soul with acidic spit, and cocooning slow saps with impossibly sticky webbing as the creature stampedes into a local park, gobbling up picnickers and joggers (one played by Lloyd Kaufman). Sure, the visual effects aren’t exactly awe-inspiring, but the CGI is tastefully arranged, preserving the artificiality of the beast and its interactions with human characters. If not completely believable, it’s admirable, with an ambitious scheme of citywide bedlam as the spider stomps through streets and scales buildings. Mendez makes the most of a crippling financial situation, generating a credible sense of threat while acknowledging the fakery necessary to pay homage to the great gods of creature feature cinema. Manage expectations accordingly, and “Big Ass Spider!” shows energizing craftsmanship with limited means, giving viewers a full dose of the creepy, crawly intruder and its reign of terror.

Bellylaughs are scarce, but “Big Ass Spider!” has a sense of humor. Blessedly, it’s not overpoweringly self-referential, preserving thrill ride interests by playing the material semi-straight, pulling jokes from the actors as they feel around for jesting opportunities. It’s a silly movie for sure, just not habitually self-conscious, while Grunberg’s lead performance holds the picture together, mixing a fabricated sense of heroism swirling within Alex with the exterminator’s inevitable fallibility. It’s a refreshingly human performance, easing more artificial supporting work from Boyar, who transforms himself into a cartoon to register onscreen.

Big Ass Spider! Blu-ray Movie, Video Quality 

The AVC encoded image (1.78:1 aspect ratio) presentation on "Big Ass Spider!" offers a clean digital look that services the original low-budget cinematography without much in the way of disruptions. Banding is present during low-lit scenes, which also register flatly, with diluted black levels and some artificial brightening. The rest of the viewing experienced supplies ample textures with facial close-ups, and detail on visual effects and locations is identified in full, permitting a satisfying feel of CGI efforts and concerned reactions. Skintones are natural. Daylight sequences bring out the potential of the disc, with a fresh handle on the great outdoors, maintaining stable colors and depth.

Big Ass Spider! Blu-ray Movie, Audio Quality 

The 5.1 Dolby True HD sound mix offers a buoyant listening event for "Big Ass Spider!" From the opening flash-forward of arachnid devastation, the track provides a hearty circular event, with welcome directional activity and a steady presence of chaos in the surrounds. Dialogue exchanges are crisp and full, never swallowed up by the action, while scoring efforts are supportive with comfortable instrumentation. Soundtrack selections sound rich and powerful. Low-end rumbles along with the spider rampage and citywide destruction, giving onscreen violence a solid sonic punch. Atmospherics are defined and communicative.

Big Ass Spider! Blu-ray Movie, Special Features and Extras 

• Commentary with stars Greg Grunberg, Lombardo Boyar, and director Mike Mendez is a boisterous track with three participants who clearly enjoy one another's company, spending as much time cracking wise as they do chatting up the movie. The horseplay tests patience on occasion (they have a nasty habit of talking over one another), but it doesn't take long before Mendez reclaims focus, sharing insights into the low-budget production and its considerable use of digital tricks, also pointing numerous genre cameos. Fans of "Big Ass Spider!" should enjoy the party atmosphere.

• "'Big Ass Spider! Premiere'" (5:07, HD) takes viewers to the South by Southwest Film Festival to experience the late night excitement of the picture's unveiling. A mix of crowd anticipation, reaction, and stage hype from director Mendez, the featurette captures the evening's events succinctly.

• Interviews (1:23, HD) collect brief snippets of salesmanship from certain members of the cast, who offer programmed reactions used to help market the picture.

• A Theatrical Trailer (2:06, HD) and an International Trailer (1:05, HD) have been included, along with a T.V. Spot (:31, HD).

Big Ass Spider! Blu-ray Movie, Overall Score and Recommendation 

Just when the state of junk drawer cinema was heading in a dispiriting direction, a production like "Big Ass Spider!" comes along to renew faith in the power of schlock. It's a lively, slick little film with a clear ambition to revive the thrills and chills of the subgenre, with particular attention to consistency and gaiety. It's not just lazy, basic cable garbage with an air horn for a title, providing satisfying, sporadically delightful entertainment for those in a monster spider mood.