A 1990 American comedy horror film, the directorial debut of Frank Marshall. The screenplay was written by Don Jakoby and Wesley Strick. Starring Jeff Daniels and John Goodman, the plot unfolds in a small California town that is overrun by deadly venomous spiders. The locals try to deal with the threat and prevent an ecological disaster. The film was the first release by Hollywood Pictures, a subsidiary of Walt Disney Studios. Principal photography took place in the town of Cambria, California, which served as the model for the fictional coastal town of Canaima. The opening scenes, including the tropical jungle sequences, were filmed in Canaima National Park in southern Venezuela, a unique natural landscape with waterfalls, plateaus, and dense forests. Some scenes were shot at Coast Union High School in Cambria, involving real students and teachers, especially in the football game and mass event scenes. The locker room scenes were also filmed with student-athletes from the school. Original methods were used for sound effects: the sound of crushed spiders was reproduced using mustard and potato chip packets stepped on by sound operators. To imitate the rustling of spiders crawling on metal pipes, long fingernails were scraped along metal pipes. The film combines humor, tension, and classic thriller elements, and became one of the most recognizable cinematic depictions of arachnophobia.

Filming Locations:

Venezuelan Jungle

In the Movie

Scene where British entomologist James Atherton discovers and captures two specimens of a new, aggressive spider species, presumably of prehistoric origin, in a Venezuelan tepui. The spiders lack reproductive organs, indicating they function as workers or soldiers in a colony, similar to hive insects — highly unusual for spiders.

In Reality

The scene was filmed at Angel Falls, located in Canaima National Park in the Venezuelan state of Bolívar. These are among the highest waterfalls in the world, with a height of 979 meters, of which 807 meters is free fall. The filming took place amidst dense jungles surrounded by majestic, isolated rock formations characteristic of the region.

Margaret Hollins' House

In the Movie

Scene where Ross's first patient, Margaret Hollins, dies from a bite from one of the new spiders. This makes him doubt Metcalf's diagnosis that she died of a heart attack.

In Reality

The scene was filmed in the vineyard area of Halter Ranch, located in the heart of the Paso Robles wine region in California. This picturesque spot in the Salinas Valley, surrounded by hills, is famous for its vineyards and historic winery.

School Stadium

In the Movie

Scene where the spider kills Todd Miller, a player on the school football team. The tragedy occurs right after Ross conducts a routine check-up on the team. This incident leads to Ross being nicknamed 'Doctor Death'.

In Reality

The scene was filmed at Coast Union High School in Cambria, California. Cambria is a coastal town located along the scenic central California coast. The school sits among hills overlooking the Pacific Ocean, and its appearance perfectly suited the depiction of a small American town school where the film's events unfold.