Ein Toter hing im Netz (1960)

Director:

Fritz Böttger

Writers:

Fritz Böttger (writer)
Eldon Howard (writer)

Release Date:

March 1962 (USA)

Genre:

Horror | Sci-Fi

Tagline:

A handful of girls enslaved by a diabolical human beast on an island where there is no way out...

Plot:

Survivors of a plane crash on a remote island find it is covered by spiders. When bitten, the survivors start turning into spiders!

Plot Keywords:

Spider | Crash | Island | Skinny Dipping | Dancer

Cast

Alexander D'Arcy	...	Gary Webster (as Alex d'Arcy)
Barbara Valentin	...	Babs (US version) (as Barbara Valentine)
Rainer Brandt	...	Bobby (as Allen Turner)
Harald Maresch	...	Joe (US version) (as Temple Foster)
Elfie Wagner	...	Linda (US version) (as Donna Ulsike)
Dorothee Parker	...	Gladys (as Norma Townes)
Helga Franck	...	Georgia
Helga Neuner	...	Ann
Gerry Sammer	...	May
Eva Schauland	...	Nelly
Helma Vandenberg	...	Kate (as Helma van den Berg)
Walter Faber	...	Mike Blackwood

Also Known As:

A Corpse Hangs in the Web (International: English title) (literal title)
Body in the Web (USA)
Ein Toter hing im Netz (West Germany) (dubbed version)
Girls of Spider Island (USA) (video title)
Horrors of Spider Island (USA) (reissue title)
It's Hot in Paradise (USA)
The Spider's Web (USA)

Runtime:

89 min | Germany:81 min | USA:77 min

Country:

West Germany | Yugoslavia

Language:

German

Color:

Black and White

Aspect Ratio:

1.37 : 1

Sound Mix:

Mono

Certification:

West Germany:18 (nf) | Finland:K-16 | USA:Unrated

Filming Locations:

Nicola, Yugoslavia

Company:

Intercontinental Film GmbH

Trivia:

First released to United States theaters in 1962 as an Adults-Only movie entitled "It's Hot in Paradise". Three years later (1965), trimmed of its nude scenes, it was re-released in the U.S. as a horror/sci-fi monster film, "Horrors of Spider Island".

Goofs:

Plot holes: To get to Singapore from Los Angeles, the dancers make a stop in New York City.

Quotes:

Joe: [to Bobby] For a guy like you, the worst girl in the world is too good!

Movie Connections:

Edited into Extra Weird (2003) (V)

Does not even reach Hal P. Warren's standards

The director of Manos, hands of fate would have been embarrassed to have been involved in this ludicrous, boring, and plot less wreck from West Germany.

The film forces us to watch several auditions for a dance troop in the beginning. While there are some semi-comedic moments, and a modicum of character development, this is really just an excuse for several of the girls to partially disrobe. This occurs frequently and somewhat randomly throughout the film. Once the troop is formed, they leave by plane with their manager, Gary (Alex Darcy). The plane crashes, they all survive aboard a raft and float off to an island with uranium deposits and large, nasty spiders who can turn people into were-spiders. Then Gilligan and the Skipper come along.... I wish.

Regardless of what language it was originally written in, the script is utter garbage. Every scene is described by the dialog while you watch it, and the language manages to be stiff, over-dramatic, and over-acted all at the same time. There are so many scenes with women moaning, screaming and slinking about in bras or bikinis in this film that your neighbors might wonder what you are watching if you have the volume up too high and the shades drawn. The cinematography is not entirely awful - there are a few nicely shot landscape scenes - but there are still twice as many unnecessary and over-long pacing disasters. Although its hard to imagine this cast really performing, the film strikes me as over-directed.

Unless you enjoy self-flagellation, I recommend staying away from this abomination.