Horror Theater Video ice spiders film review

It's the end of the winter season at The Lost Lounge Ski Resort. But up near the top of the mountain a secret scientific experiment is taking place involving spiders, a science fictions films best friend. Five different species of spiders are being fed a diet of scientific mumbo jumbo, let's call it Spider Steroids. Soon the Steroids are not enough to satisfy the hunger of the now over size arachnids, and in a fit of "roid-rage", they all escape.

One of the scientists, Dr. Sommers (Williams) suspects her superiors are over-doping the spiders, and sends samples to a friend at another laboratory, and her findings are correct. The spiders are loose and very hungry. But the reason a mountaintop was chosen was in case of an arach-attack, the spiders would not be able to survive thecold weather and would die. But the steroids have strengthened the spiders immune systems, and can now survive in the cold. Quickly the spiders begin to attack and devour everything they see and make their way to the ski lodge.

Originally a Sci-Fi Movie Channel film, the DVD release of the film has the clips that were taken from the television version, and the film is much better than you would expect. Working with Dr. Somers at the lodge during the attack is ex-olympic skier "Dash" Dashiell (Patrick Muldoon, from Starship Troopers, another giant bug movie). Together they device a plan in which to lure the spiders into a trap laid out by the U.S. Army, and recapture the arachnids.

The film is beautifully photographed, with plenty of ski footage added. The special effects are comparable to what you'd expect of a giant spider movie. Most shots of the spiders are convincing, and there are a few bloody shots, but no gore for the gorehounds (sorry). But if you like fast action, are not afraid of creepy-crawlies, and want to settle in on a cold night, this is the movie for you. And one last thing, in case most of you do not know, SPIDERS ARE NOT INSECTS, THEY ARE ARACHNIDS. That is your science lesson of the day, class dismissed.

My Rating:

REVIEWED BY TONY BERNARDINI