According to IMDb's synopsis, Legend of the Spider Forest (AKA Venom) is about a Nazi scientist and a woman known as the 'spider goddess' who attempt to develop a nerve gas made from spider venom.
Weeeelll, that's not entirely correct: the 'spider goddess' isn't knowingly involved with the making of the nerve agent; she's unwittingly being used by the Nazi and his cohorts as a figure of fear to keep villagers away from their lab.
More importantly, this plot development only comes into play in the film's closing moments, the vast majority of the action involving British artist Paul Greville (Simon Brent), who is on a trip in the German countryside when he sees a pretty young woman (Neda Arneric) bearing a spider tattoo on her shoulder. After photographing the girl, Paul finds himself the subject of much attention from the locals, for reasons unknown. The mystery deepens when the artist discovers a dead man and a valuable Bosch painting in the woods, both of which promptly disappear.
Sadly, the viewer is kept as much in the dark throughout as the perplexed artist, the movie a confusing, poorly written and scrappily directed mess that only the most dedicated of horror fans will persevere with.
3.5/10, generously rounded up to 4 for the occasional spot of nudity from Arneric and for Paul's dodgy fashion choices (a natty neck scarf and an over the T-shirt belt).
Weeeelll, that's not entirely correct: the 'spider goddess' isn't knowingly involved with the making of the nerve agent; she's unwittingly being used by the Nazi and his cohorts as a figure of fear to keep villagers away from their lab.
More importantly, this plot development only comes into play in the film's closing moments, the vast majority of the action involving British artist Paul Greville (Simon Brent), who is on a trip in the German countryside when he sees a pretty young woman (Neda Arneric) bearing a spider tattoo on her shoulder. After photographing the girl, Paul finds himself the subject of much attention from the locals, for reasons unknown. The mystery deepens when the artist discovers a dead man and a valuable Bosch painting in the woods, both of which promptly disappear.
Sadly, the viewer is kept as much in the dark throughout as the perplexed artist, the movie a confusing, poorly written and scrappily directed mess that only the most dedicated of horror fans will persevere with.
3.5/10, generously rounded up to 4 for the occasional spot of nudity from Arneric and for Paul's dodgy fashion choices (a natty neck scarf and an over the T-shirt belt).