The residents of a rural mining town discover that an unfortunate chemical spill has caused hundreds of little spiders to mutate overnight to the size of SUVs. It's then up to mining engineer Chris McCormack and Sheriff Sam Parker to mobilize an eclectic group of townspeople, including the Sheriff's young son, Mike, her daughter, Ashley, and paranoid radio announcer Harlan, into battle against the bloodthirsty eight-legged beasts.
It's the filmmakers' post-camp comprehension of what made old-time B movies good-bad that makes Eight Legged Freaks a perfectly entertaining summer diversion.
– Hazel-Dawn Dumpert,
L.A. Weekly,
19 Jul 2002
rotten:
This is a poster movie, a mediocre tribute to films like Them!
– Desson Thomson,
Washington Post,
19 Jul 2002
rotten:
[I]ts marginally amusing, but I'm giving it thumbs down.
– Richard Roeper,
Ebert & Roeper,
22 Jul 2002
rotten:
Despite nifty F/X, first-time director Ellory Elkayem's staging is altogether devoid of variation.