Rating summary

Movie		3.0
Video		3.5
Audio		3.5
Extras		1.0
Overall		3.0

Web of the Spider Blu-ray Movie Review

Reviewed by Jeffrey Kauffman October 14, 2024

Note: This version of this film is available on Blu-ray as part of the Creature with the Blue Hand set from Film Masters.

Film Masters has been carving out a little niche for itself with cult offerings that the label has often brought out in "double feature" form, with two films per release. They're upping the ante with this release, which offers three films with perhaps seemingly somewhat tenuous but still definable connective tissues. Collectors of previous niche Blu-ray releases may have some with the venerable Sam Sherman on hand in some supplements, and the B- movie entrepreneur is back here both on supplements and in his executive role as part of Independent International Pictures, whose masthead adorns all three films in this set. Sherman offers a commentary track on The Bloody Dead, which is offered in this set as a supplement, and which is actually a rejiggered version by Sherman of this set's "main" feature, Creature with the Blue Hand, which has a memorable starring performance (actually performances, since he plays twins) by Klaus Kinski. Kinski is also featured as none other than Edgar Allan Poe in the advertised "second feature" of this set, Web of the Spider, which is itself a remake of the well remembered Castle of Blood.

Somewhat interestingly, at least given the fact that Castle of Blood is probably inarguably better remembered than this film, Web of the Spider has had more than one previous release on Blu-ray, including a 2017 release courtesy of Garagehouse Pictures, and that link will take you to Svet Atanasov's review, which provides plot information and screenshots from that version, for those who like to do side by side comparisons. An asterisked comment at the end of the linked to review mentions that this a "loose remake" of Castle of Blood, but as Kim Newman and Stephen Jones get into, not only was this directed by Castle of Blood's (pseudonymic) Anthony Dawson (Antonio Margheriti), the original version's screenplay by Bruno Corbucci and Giovanni Grimaldi was pretty much simply recycled intact for this effort.

Web of the Spider Blu-ray Movie, Video Quality 

Web of the Spider is presented on Blu-ray courtesy of Film Masters with an AVC encoded 1080p transfer in 2.35:1. As usual, Film Masters doesn't provide a whale of a lot of technical information about this transfer, offering only a generic "new 4K scan" on the front cover. Judging solely by screenshots, this looks passingly similar to the Garagehouse presentation, though it's noticeably darker and I'd argue better suffused and maybe even more accurately color timed. That said, this transfer shows some of the kind of weird variances in color timing that I mentioned in our Creature with the Blue Hand Blu-ray review, though here the emphases tend to be more resolutely in green territory. There's a bit of an orange hue that also runs through a number of scenes, something that perhaps accentuates Michele Mercier's quasi-auburn tresses, but which can give flesh tones a somewhat flushed appearance. Detail levels are decent and can improve at least marginally in close-ups. Grain shows some variability as well, and while not overly problematic, didn't strike my eyes as looking all that natural or organic, which may indicate some deficit in whatever element was utilized.

Web of the Spider Blu-ray Movie, Audio Quality 

Web of the Spider features a DTS-HD Master Audio 2.0 Mono track that provides capable support for the film's kind of weird score by Riz Ortolani (that almost traffics in surf guitars at times), as well as occasional sound effects. While this film offers at least Anthony Franciosa speaking his native language, the entire film was obviously post looped, and sync can be more than loose at times. Dialogue is nonetheless delivered cleanly and clearly throughout. Optional English subtitles are available.

Web of the Spider Blu-ray Movie, Special Features and Extras 

• Commentary with Stephen Jones and Kim Newman is another fun and informative discussion with this pair. As usual, and again commendably, Film Masters offers separate subtitles for the commentary for those who might need them.


• Re-imagined Trailer for Web of the Spider (HD; 1:56)


• Castle of Blood Original English Trailer (HD; 1:42)

Web of the Spider Blu-ray Movie, Overall Score and Recommendation 

Anthony Franciosa is badly miscast here, and he comes off as some wannabe Rat Pack member transported back a century to interact (if briefly) with Edgar Allan Poe. This film just doesn't have the spooky mood of Castle of Blood, though as a historical curiosity it has some selling points of its own. Technical merits are acceptable if never mind blowing, and the commentary track is a lot of fun, for anyone who may be considering making a purchase.