Spider (2002)

A mentally-disturbed man takes residence in a halfway house. His mind gradually slips back into the realm created by his illness, where he replays a key part of his childhood.

Director:

David Cronenberg

Writers:

Patrick McGrath (novel), Patrick McGrath

Stars:

Ralph Fiennes, Miranda Richardson, Gabriel Byrne

12 wins & 22 nominations.

Cast

Cast overview, first billed only:
Ralph Fiennes	...	Spider
Miranda Richardson	...	Yvonne / Mrs. Cleg
Gabriel Byrne	...	Bill Cleg
Lynn Redgrave	...	Mrs. Wilkinson
John Neville	...	Terrence
Bradley Hall	...	Spider Boy
Gary Reineke	...	Freddy
Philip Craig	...	John
Cliff Saunders	...	Bob
Tara Ellis	...	Nora
Sara Stockbridge	...	Gladys
Arthur Whybrow	...	Ernie
Nicola Duffett	...	Barmaid
Jake Nightingale	...	Large Man
Alison Egan	...	Flashing Yvonne

Storyline

Dennis Clegg is in his thirties and lives in a halfway house for the mentally ill in London. Dennis, nicknamed "Spider" by his mother has been institutionalized with acute schizophrenia for some 20 years. He has never truly recovered, however, and as the story progresses we vicariously experience his increasingly fragile grip on reality.

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Plot Keywords:

halfway house | reality | schizophrenia | key | spider | 

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Taglines:

Watashi no haha wa korosareta [Japan]

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Genres:

Drama

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Motion Picture Rating (MPAA)

Rated R for sexuality, brief violence and language

Details

Official Sites:

Official site

Country:

Canada UK

Language:

English

Release Date:

13 December 2002 (Canada)

Also Known As:

Pajak

Filming Locations:

Cinespace Film Studios, Toronto, Ontario, Canada

Box Office

Budget:

$8,000,000 (estimated)

Opening Weekend:

$189,350 (USA) (28 February 2003)

Gross:

$1,641,788 (USA) (25 July 2003)

Company Credits

Production Co:

Odeon Films, Capitol Films, Artists Independent Network

Technical Specs

Runtime:

98 min 94 min (DVD edition)

Sound Mix:

Dolby Digital

Color:

Color

Aspect Ratio:

1.78 : 1

Did You Know?

Trivia

David Cronenberg received the screenplay from Patrick McGrath out of the blue, with a note attached saying that Ralph Fiennes was interested in playing the part of Spider. After about four pages, Cronenberg had decided that he wanted to do the film.

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Goofs

There is a reflection of a crewmember in the building window while Spider walks on Kitchener street.

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Quotes

Mrs. Wilkinson: What've you done? What have you done?

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Connections

References Images (1972)

User Reviews

May be Cronenberg's best

I was lucky enough to see a screening of this in Queens, where David Cronenberg spoke about the film afterwards. He may be the most intelligent filmmaker working today. This is such an incredibly complex film, with so many levels of interpretations and ambiguity, which most great films offer an audience. The acting is first-rate and Oscar-worthy in a literal sense, not a bulls*** Hollywood sense; the composition of the shots is beautiful; the story is flawless and engaging; the production design is perfect - I could go on, but you get the picture. What's unfortunate is so many critics are discussing this film as one about schizophrenia, which it really isn't, nor was it meant to be. As it turns out, it is an excellent representation of the schizophrenic experience. But Cronenberg intended it to be representational of the human condition, with all its mysteries, uncertainties and existential anxieties. What was never an uncertainty, however, is Cronenberg's skillful mastery of delivering genius.