Spider Baby

In honor of Grindhouse being a new trend, I thought I'd hunt up a grindhouse movie that I've heard of for year, but never saw. So, I dialed up the old Netflix and the next thing I know, Spider Baby is on my front porch!



Besides being a forerunner to Texas Chainsaw Massacre as an 'insane family in a remote location kills of visitors' sort of movie, this is also one of the last movies that Lon Chaney Jr. did, so it's particularly grindhouse-ish (if that's a word). Here's the story: Lon plays the caretaker of a group of kids, who, because of a genetic disease are de-evolving. The older they get the more feral they become, until they have to be locked in the basement to keep them for hunting and killing the people who might wander by. The problem comes when some long lost relatives of the kids come by, one trying to get them the help they need, the others trying to get their hands on the property and any money that might be around. Well, when the going gets tough, the tough start killing...isn't that what they say??

This is one of the best, least known movies I've ever seen. Lon Chaney Jr. is in great form here as the sympathetic caretaker, trying to keep the kids from killing and still taking care of them. And there's a very young Sid Hiag as Ralph, the boy who's still young enough to be allowed to run around the house, but getting old enough that if he's not watched he going to kill something. And, there's even a dinner table scene that's not a grizzly as the Chainsaw table scene, but it's still pretty intense!

I'm giving Spider Baby three and a half out of four cigars,

because, while it's pretty dated, it's still fun to see the early work of Sid Haig at the same time you're watching the late work of Lon Chaney Jr., it's like the new and the old meshing in one movie. And, the fact that it's left open for a sequel that, as far as I know, was never explored, leave Spider Baby as one of the best movies I'd love to see a sequel to...or at least a good remake of! So, until next time, when I'll tell you about the hunting I do sometimes at night...you know, looking for that lost beer in the back of the fridge...until then, remember that the best movies are bad movies.