Review of Spider

Introduction

Spider is a damaged person. Returning to the `care of the community` means for him, a place in a `half-way house` with the other damaged people. Once in his sparsely furnished room he struggles to make sense of his fractured memories of childhood. He finds it difficult to communicate with other people and spends most of his time alone except for Terrence, an old man who also lives in the house.

As Spider`s story unfolds to himself and us, he pieces together his memories. But the problem with putting together a jigsaw is that one day the whole picture will become clear.

The film is directed by David Cronenberg, not a name normally associated with low budget British films. Its supporting cast includes John Neville previously the `well-manicured man` in the X Files Movie.

Video

The picture is good and produced in anamorphic widescreen for your viewing pleasure. It lacks to my eye the very clear definition of more high budget productions. When there is an exterior shot in the country the colours are bright and normal but generally they veer towards the brownish with many interior and nighttime shots. The dourness of the film and locations does suit the tale. Both the past, the 1950`s and the present, not quite modern day feel austere and derelict.

Past and present merge as current events and memories converge. The viewer is placed in Spider`s consciousness when he revisits old haunts and relives his past.

Audio

Patrick McGrath based the film script on his own novel. He was brought up near Broadmoor; the secure hospital for the criminally insane and his father was a medical superintendent there. The book is written in the first person and so the film has translated this into the presence of the older Spider in scenes of his childhood. He does not narrate the tale but he guides what the audience sees.

The actual script is fairly minimal particularly for Ralph Fiennes as Spider. He uses his mannerisms and demeanour to externalise his state of mind. Other characters take on the script and in particular Miranda Richardson who plays his mother. Her subtle character changes are integral to the plot.

The music soundtrack is very subtle and non intrusive. The measured tones of the opening hymn feels very `correct`.

As to Raplh Fiennes muttering it can be infuriating to not catch what he is saying but if you turn on the subtitles they will drive you mad.

Features

Two trailers for the US and English market. It is interesting to note how an altered voice can make you feel differently about a film.
Interviews with cast and crew- Short excerpts of interviews with the main players including Cronenberg. These are very short, only a few minutes in total. So not a whole lot of insight into the film.

There is a very nice menu that is easy to navigate with the continuing soundtrack of the film.

Conclusion

When Theseus found his way out of the labyrinth he used a ball of string and the Greek name for this was ` a clue`. In this film we are given `clues` and we get to the centre of the Spider`s web probably at the same time he does.

It is an interesting and involving narrative and the next time you see a homeless man walking the streets and muttering to himself you may actually be curious enough to wonder how he got there. It won`t suit everyone and I certainly don`t know if it is a true representation of a schizophrenic personality.Very little happens in it and some people may find it infuriatingly slow or just plain weird.

I didn`t find the plot overly complex but nevertheless enjoyed being led. It will certainly stand re-viewing at a later date.

The appearance of Ralph Fiennes in two contrasting films this month,the other being `Maid in Manhattan` shows his versatility. I think his heavily nicotine stained fingers in this film will remain longer in the memory than courting J-Lo.

The DVD is a good quality transfer but has little in the way of extras to tempt the collector. I would recomend at least a rent and decide for yourself if it is your cup of tea.