Kingdom of the Spiders Blu-ray Movie

Rating summary

Movie		3.5
Video		4.5
Audio		3.5
Extras		4.5
Overall		4.0

Kingdom of the Spiders Blu-ray Movie Review

Reviewed by Brian Orndorf June 30, 2017

1977’s “Kingdom of the Spiders” is not a particularly original film, but it does have specificity of threat, selecting one of the more powerful phobias shared by millions. Sure, sharks and birds don’t provide the most peaceful imagery, but there’s something about spiders that hits right at the heart of horror. Director John Cardos doesn’t have much of a budget to do something epic with “Kingdom of the Spiders,” but he values his tiny stars, keeping crawly things motoring along as the cast and a substantial number of extras explore levels of panic. It’s not polished work, but it’s mostly fun and filled with cheap thrills.

In the rural town of Verde Valley, Arizona, spiders, rejecting pesticide treatments, have decided to crawl into town and make a new nest, killing precious farm animals during the move-in process. Veterinarian Rack (William Shatner) doesn’t quite know what to make of the situation, requiring help from Tempe specialist, Diane (Tiffany Bolling). Putting together clues and investigating deaths, Rack and Diane soon realize how serious a threat this is, with the entire Verde Valley exposed to the dangers of hungry spiders.

The saga of Rack, small town veterinarian, would likely be enough for “Kingdom of the Spiders.” Shatner is already at full Shatning early in the movie, but Cardos mixes things up just a little bit, keeping the character one step behind the spider rampage, while Diane represents a modern city woman, challenging his masculinity. The picture doesn’t make a big deal out of the battle of the sexes, but it’s there, along with additional touches from the 1970s, including references to the Vietnam War. The spiders are the big draw, but the feature tries to remain dramatically sound enough to earn late-inning carnage, meeting with members of the community (including Woody Strode as a farmer), and town leaders afraid a spider invasion will hurt tourism, challenging Rack and Diane to secure proof before it’s too late.

Kingdom of the Spiders Blu-ray Movie, Video Quality 

The AVC encoded image (1.78:1 aspect ratio) presentation delivers a bright and bold look at the horrors of "Kingdom of the Spiders." Detail is excellent throughout, offering sharp facial particulars that communicate panic and environmental changes, and costuming retains fibrous qualities. Textures are also plentiful on the spiders, giving their rampage menacing clarity. Primaries come through with power, exploring deep blue skies and southwestern hues, and skintones are precise. Delineation is strong, securing evening encounters. Source is clean, without overt points of damage. Grain is fine and filmic.

Kingdom of the Spiders Blu-ray Movie, Audio Quality 

The 2.0 DTS-HD MA sound mix does show its age, hitting a few shrill highs during scenes of extreme panic, and popping is present throughout the listening experience. More settled scenes are comfortable, detailing dialogue exchanges, which maintain their emphasis. Scoring is sharp but effective, supporting stinger moments with volume and instrumentation. Sound effects are crude but communicate intended mayhem.

Kingdom of the Spiders Blu-ray Movie, Special Features and Extras 

• Intro (:47, HD) presents the sight of a man in a banana outfit welcoming viewers to the "Kingdom of the Spiders" Blu- ray experience, joined by actress Tiffany Bolling.

• Commentary #1 features Bolling and producer Igo Kantor.

• Commentary #2 features Kantor, director John Cardos, cinematographer John Morell, and spider wrangler Jim Brockett.

• Interview (9:09, HD) with Bolling discusses her casting, winning the part due to her comfort with spiders. She discusses Shatner's pursuit of an affair during the shoot, even with wife Marcy Lafferty around. And Bolling praises her co-stars and the bravery of extras forced to deal with the spiders. Career talk is also included, sharing anecdotes from her time on "The New People," "The Wild Party," and her stint as Spider Lady on "Electra Woman and Dyna Girl."

• Interview (12:21, SD) with Brockett is more of a nature segment, with the spider wrangler showing off different types of spiders, identifying more aggressive threats and the creatures used for the film shoot.

• Interview (4:35, SD) with co-writer Steve Lodge explores influences on "Kingdom of the Spiders," highlighting "Jaws" and "The Birds" as the movies the production pinched from. Lodge also shares a few memories from the shoot, including the arduous task of spider wrangling to perfect shots.

• And a Theatrical Trailer (1:54, SD) is included.

Kingdom of the Spiders Blu-ray Movie, Overall Score and Recommendation 

Spider violence is vividly staged, and creature lovers should exercise caution around the feature, as the tiny stars are handled roughly at times. On a cinematic level of engagement, "Kingdom of the Spiders" is spare but enjoyable, playing up panic from overwhelmed locals (one lady shoots her hand off trying to clear away a pesky invader), leading to an extended climax that's good about paying off early promises, while the ending itself is surprisingly forbidding, adding just the right beat of despair to exit on, making something potentially silly unforgettable.