The film explores the story of a deadly spider species in South America that completely obstructs things. This spider begins to climb into the United States in a coffin and begins to multiply and kill everywhere.
Plenty of laughs, but the action scenes don't really generate much in the way of scares. Good enough for Sunday afternoon, though.
Washington Post
January 01, 2000
Frank Marshall, a constant Spielberg collaborator, makes his directorial debut in this genial horror movie, a sweet infestation that creeps and crawls but wouldn't scare anybody.
Preys upon that dread in a wonderfully cinematic manner, elegantly keeping the antics lighthearted enough to encourage a viewing, but eventually digging into spiderific panic -- pure candy to horror junkies on the prowl for the perfect thrill.
That sound you hear in the background is the ''ugh!'' heard round the world. Luckily, ''Arachnophobia'' will also be generating its share of boisterous, nervous laughter.
Chicago Sun-Times
January 01, 2000
This is the kind of movie where you squirm out of enjoyment, not terror, and it's probably going to be popular with younger audiences - it doesn't pound you over the head with violence.
"Arachnophobia" is a notch or two above the typical creature horror movie, with solid special effects and a decent story that isn't just one "Boo!" after the other.
Frank Marshall's sophisticated feature directing debut never indulges in ultimate gross-out effects and carefully chooses both its victims and its means of depicting their dispatch.
