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Spider

Play trailer Poster for Spider R 2003 1h 38m Mystery & Thriller Drama Play Trailer Watchlist
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84% Tomatometer 140 Reviews 68% Popcornmeter 10,000+ Ratings
Released after decades in a sanitarium, schizophrenic Dennis Spider Cleg (Ralph Fiennes) moves into Mrs. Wilkinson's (Lynn Redgrave) halfway house and befriends a fellow resident, Terrence (John Neville), before retreating into personal writing and the darkness of his own haunted mind. Spider struggles to decipher murky memories of a childhood trauma involving his abusive father (Gabriel Byrne), his murdered mother (Miranda Richardson), and a prostitute who may have replaced her.
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Spider

Spider

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Critics Consensus

Ralph Fiennes is brilliant in this accomplished and haunting David Cronenberg film.

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Critics Reviews

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Barbara Ellen The Times (UK) Jan 3, 2018
The film's slow, plodding pace relies too much on strong performances and grubby splashes of "atmosphere" rather than genuine emotion and plot. Go to Full Review Eric Harrison Houston Chronicle Apr 26, 2003
A
This is one of the director's most accomplished films. Go to Full Review Chris Vognar Dallas Morning News Apr 24, 2003
B+
It's a pleasure to watch such an understated treatment of potentially sensational subject matter. Go to Full Review Diana Tuova Loud and Clear Reviews Nov 12, 2024
4/5
Cronenberg’s controlled direction and Fiennes’s mesmerizing performance make Spider a riveting portrayal of one fractured mind haunted by a painful past. Go to Full Review Joe Lipsett Anatomy of a Scream Podcast Network Nov 7, 2024
A film built around a predictable twist that Cronenberg seems ill-suited for. Fiennes delivers a decent performance, but most of the present-day scenes feel inconsequential compared to the past. Richardson's dual roles are the film's greatest asset Go to Full Review Bill Bria Vague Visages Jun 15, 2023
Cronenberg’s more internalized era doesn’t skimp on the devastating effects of self-destruction — in fact, it arguably finds them even more pronounced. Go to Full Review Read all reviews

Audience Reviews

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Robert P @Superbad Sep 25, 2026 Spider = a *4* star movie... See more R T @RT85036804 Aug 29, 2026 When talking about a director who can do whatever the hell he wants—and still manage to deliver authentic, profound, and fantastic works, even when it’s a commissioned project—David Cronenberg is the man. Here, he completely abandons body horror and the classic stylistic hallmarks that made him instantly recognizable, immersing himself instead in a totally different genre: psychological, dramatic, dark, and raw. The story is simply heartbreaking and masterfully told, featuring breathtaking performances, grand production design, and cinematography that is both somber and deep. It is a very slow-paced film and not one to be watched lightly; it is a movie that looks right back into your soul and leaves you changed. Highly recommended. See more Johnwil B @Johnwil123 Mar 28, 2026 oh men the movie was good See more Alejandro E @Alex970 Mar 16, 2025 The odyssey of Telemachus, brought to the present day, in the person of a psychiatric patient, in a journey of introspection that is more destructive than sobering. The highlight is Ralph Fiennes who expresses much with few words. See more Sinisa P @RT26085034 Jun 1, 2024 Powerful and tragic story, kept me processing it for days after I watched the movie. Pity that intro on RT is a spoiler. See more David W @RT91245001 Nov 15, 2023 While difficult to follow at first and leaving the audience with too many unanswered questions for my liking, Spider does offer interesting and compelling filmmaking with the audience piecing together the story alongside the protagonist. However, the opacity is too much for my taste. I would only watch this again if there were nothing better to choose from. See more Read all reviews
Spider

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Cast & Crew

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David Cronenberg

Director

Ralph Fiennes

Spider

Miranda Richardson

Mrs. Cleg

Gabriel Byrne

Bill Cleg

Bradley Hall

Boy Spider

Lynn Redgrave

Mrs. Wilkinson

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Spider

Ralph Fiennes as Spider. John Neville as Terrence, Lynn Redgrave as Mrs. Wilkinson and Ralph Fiennes as Spider. John Neville as Terrence and Ralph Fiennes as Spider. Ralph Fiennes as Spider. David Cronenberg, the Director and Ralph Fiennes as Spider. Ralph Fiennes is Spider in David Cronenberg's SPIDER. Scene from the film SPIDER. Scene from the film SPIDER. Scene from the film SPIDER. Scene from the film SPIDER. View more photos

Movie Info

Synopsis Released after decades in a sanitarium, schizophrenic Dennis Spider Cleg (Ralph Fiennes) moves into Mrs. Wilkinson's (Lynn Redgrave) halfway house and befriends a fellow resident, Terrence (John Neville), before retreating into personal writing and the darkness of his own haunted mind. Spider struggles to decipher murky memories of a childhood trauma involving his abusive father (Gabriel Byrne), his murdered mother (Miranda Richardson), and a prostitute who may have replaced her.
Director
David Cronenberg
Producer
Catherine Bailey
Screenwriter
Patrick McGrath, Patrick McGrath, David Cronenberg
Distributor
Sony Pictures Classics
Production Co
CBL, Artists Independent Network
Rating
R (Language|Brief Violence|Sexuality)
Genre
Mystery & Thriller, Drama
Original Language
English
Release Date (Theaters)
Feb 28, 2003, Original
Release Date (Streaming)
Oct 1, 2017
Box Office (Gross USA)
$1.6M
Runtime
1h 38m
Sound Mix
Dolby Stereo, Dolby Digital, Dolby A, Surround, Dolby SR
Aspect Ratio
Flat (1.85:1)
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