Spider (2002)

User Rating:

6.9/10   

Director:

David Cronenberg

Writers:

Patrick McGrath (novel)
Patrick McGrath (written by)

Release Date:

13 September 2002 (Portugal)

Genre:

Drama | Mystery

Tagline:

The only thing worse than losing your mind... is finding it again.

Plot:

A mentally-disturbed man takes residence in a halfway house. His mind gradually slips back into the realm created by his illness, where he replays a key part of his childhood.

Plot Keywords:

Halfway House | London | Schizophrenia | Spider | Betrayal

Awards:

12 wins & 17 nominations

Cast

Ralph Fiennes	...	Spider
Miranda Richardson	...	Yvonne / Mrs. Cleg
Gabriel Byrne	...	Bill Cleg
Lynn Redgrave	...	Mrs. Wilkinson
John Neville	...	Terrence
Bradley Hall	...	Dennis Cleg as a child
Gary Reineke	...	Freddy
Philip Craig	...	John
Cliff Saunders	...	Bob
Tara Ellis	...	Nora
Sara Stockbridge	...	Gladys
Arthur Whybrow	...	Ernie
Nicola Duffett	...	Barmaid
Jake Nightingale	...	Large Man
Alison Egan	...	Flashing Yvonne
Donald Ewer	...	Toothless Jack
Joan Heney	...	Cook
Peter Elliott	...	Resident
Alec Stockwell	...	Resident
Scott McCord	...	Resident
Frank Blanch	...	Resident
Rachel Taggart	...	Young Woman
Olivia Imogen Harris	...	Child

Directed by
David Cronenberg

Writing credits
Patrick McGrath		(novel)
Patrick McGrath		(written by)

Produced by
Maria Aitken	....	associate producer
Catherine Bailey	....	producer
Jane Barclay	....	executive producer
Sanjay Burman	....	associate producer
David Cronenberg	....	producer
Charles Finch	....	executive producer
Simon Franks	....	executive producer
Sara Giles	....	associate producer
Samuel Hadida	....	producer
Victor Hadida	....	executive producer
Sharon Harel	....	executive producer
Zygi Kamasa	....	executive producer
Martin Katz	....	executive producer
Hannah Leader	....	executive producer
Luc Roeg	....	executive producer
Guy Tannahill	....	line producer

Original Music by
Howard Shore

Cinematography by
Peter Suschitzky		(director of photography)

Film Editing by
Ronald Sanders

Casting by
Suzanne Smith

Production Design by
Andrew Sanders

Art Direction by
Arvinder Grewal		(as Arv Grewal)
Lucy Richardson

Set Decoration by
Marina Morris
Clive Thomasson

Costume Design by
Denise Cronenberg

Makeup Department
Christine Allsopp	....	makeup artist: UK
Stephan Dupuis	....	chief makeup artist (as Stéphan Dupuis)
Andrea Finch	....	hair stylist: UK
Andrea Finch	....	makeup artist: UK
Mary-Lou Green-Benvenuti	....	hair designer
Inge Klaudi	....	makeup artist (as Inge Klaude)
Tony Lilley	....	hair stylist: UK
Carol Marinoff	....	assistant hair stylist

Production Management
Nick Girvan	....	unit manager: UK (as Nick Knox Girvan)
Kelly Howard-Garde	....	production manager
Lynda McKenzie	....	post-production supervisor
Marilyn Stonehouse	....	unit production manager

Second Unit Director or Assistant Director
Penny Charter	....	second assistant director
Jennifer Cote	....	third assistant director (as Jennifer Côté)
Sara Desmond	....	second assistant director: UK
Walter Gasparovic	....	first assistant director
Ben Howard	....	second second assistant director
Jon E.A. Hunter	....	second assistant director
Mike Manzato	....	trainee assistant director (as Michael Manzato)
Alex Oakley	....	co-second assistant director: UK
Abbie Weinberg	....	third assistant director

Art Department
Marshall Aver	....	production buyer
David Balfour	....	property master: UK
Jeffrey Benedetti	....	laborer
Carlos Caneca	....	lead man
David Cheesman	....	dressing props: UK (as Dave Cheesman)
Marlon Cole	....	dressing props: UK
Michael Comeau	....	assistant head carpenter
Allan Croucher	....	head plasterer: UK
Peter Croucher	....	plasterer: UK
Joe Curtin	....	construction coordinator
James Foster	....	assistant art director: UK
Mark Geeson	....	dressing props: UK
Christopher Geggie	....	property master
Matthew Gray	....	draughtsman: UK (as Matt Gray)
Margaret Graysmark	....	construction buyer: UK
Tony Graysmark	....	construction manager: UK
Robert Hill	....	chargehand stand-by
Jon Hunter	....	second assistant art director
Paul Jefferson	....	head carpenter
Henry Jesiak	....	assistant property master
Bryce Johnston	....	carpenter: UK (as Bryce Johnstone)
Cheryl Ladrillo	....	on-set painter
Carolyn 'Cal' Loucks	....	assistant set decorator
Charlie McGinlay	....	painter: UK
Hugh McKenzie	....	carpenter: UK
Michael J. Meade	....	property buyer (as Michael Meade)
John Mister	....	plasterer: UK
Laura Moneta	....	assistant head painter
James Muir	....	stand-by stagehand: UK
Ian Nelmes	....	key scenic artist
Joseph Newman	....	stand-by carpenter: UK
John Porter	....	carpenter: UK
Albert Roper	....	stand-by painter: UK
Randy Ross	....	head painter
Keith Shannon	....	plasterer: UK
Michael Sherwin	....	mouldmaker
Adrian Start	....	head painter: UK
Matthew Start	....	painter: UK
Angelo Stea	....	on-set dresser
Remo Tozzi	....	draughtsman: UK
Keith Vowles	....	storeman: UK
Abbie Weinberg	....	assistant art director
John Wells	....	chargehand dresser: UK
Laurence Wells	....	dressing props: UK
Lotta Wolgers	....	art department runner: UK
Stephanie Yarymowich	....	second scenic artist

Sound Department
Christian T. Cooke	....	sound re-recording mixer
Eliot Crackower	....	re-recording assistant
Tony Currie	....	sound editor
David Evans	....	supervising sound editor
Robert Farr	....	adr mixer
Robert Farr	....	adr recordist
Glen Gauthier	....	production sound mixer (as Glen Emile Gauthier)
Cornelia Mariana Gavrilescu	....	foley recording asisstant
Wayne Griffin	....	supervising sound editor
Goro Koyama	....	foley artist
Andy Malcolm	....	foley artist
Ron Malligers	....	foley mixer (as Ron Mellegers)
Craig Mann	....	re-recording assistant
Joanne McLeish	....	assistant sound effects editor
John Midgley	....	sound mixer: UK
Paul Munro	....	sound maintentance
June Prinz	....	boom operator: UK
Steve F.B. Smith	....	stereo sound consultant: Dolby (as Steve Smith)
Orest Sushko	....	sound re-recording mixer
Steve Switzer	....	boom operator
Don White	....	foley recording mixer
Rebecca Wright	....	foley assistant
David Yonson	....	adr recordist
Gren-Erich Zwicker	....	assistant dialogue editor

Special Effects by
Fiona MacPherson	....	special effects shop coordinator
Rob Sanderson	....	special effects key technician
Alan Senior	....	special effects supervisor: UK
Chris Watson	....	special effects technician: UK
Daniel White	....	special effects coordinator: Canada

Visual Effects by
Stanley Monahan	....	optical effects

Camera and Electrical Department
Scotty Allan	....	gaffer
Allan Angus	....	electrician
Pierre Berube	....	best boy rigging electric
Russel Bowie	....	first assistant camera
Don Caulfield	....	electrician (as Donald Caulfield)
Alan Coates	....	generator operator: UK
Darcy Gasparovic	....	second assistant camera
Glen Goodchild	....	best boy grip
Wayne Goodchild	....	key grip
Greg Grainger	....	grip
Duane Gullison	....	best boy electric
Rawdon Hayne	....	assistant camera
Nick Kenealy	....	video assist operator: UK
Jim Krauter	....	dolly grip
Stephen Lee	....	video assist operator: London
Roger Lowe	....	rigging gaffer: UK
Jim MacCammon	....	electrician (as Mac MacCammon)
Iain Mackay	....	camera trainee: UK
Ronald Meeks	....	head rigger: UK
Monty Montgomerie	....	grip
Peter Mountain	....	still photographer
Gary Nagle	....	electrician: UK
Andrew W. Peart	....	video operator (as Andrew Peart)
Phil Penfold	....	best boy electric: UK
Larry S. Prinz	....	gaffer: UK (as Larry Prinz)
Nick Ray	....	key grip: UK
Takashi Seida	....	still photographer
Sky Sharrock	....	clapper loader: UK
Davidson Tate	....	rigging gaffer
Dan Thomas	....	electrician: UK
Jason Vettese	....	camera trainee
Alan Williams	....	stand-by rigger: UK
Malcolm Wilson	....	rigger: UK
Paul Zoskey	....	24 frame video operator

Casting Department
Vanessa Baker	....	adr voice casting
Deirdre Bowen	....	casting: Canada (as Deidre Bowen)
Brendan Donnison	....	adr voice casting
Pippa Hall	....	casting: Boy Spider
Julie Harkin	....	casting assistant
Zameret Kleiman	....	extras casting
Lucy Townsend	....	casting assistant

Costume and Wardrobe Department
Natalie Bronfman	....	costume coordinator
Matthew Campbell	....	assistant costume supervisor
Nigel Egerton	....	assistant costume designer: UK
Brenda Gilles	....	costume supervisor
Andrew Hunt	....	costume assistant: UK
Alison Mitchell	....	costume assistant: UK (as Ali Mitchell)
Vanessa Munro	....	wardrobe mistress: UK

Editorial Department
Ricardo Olivero	....	color timer
Catherine Rankin	....	negative cutter
Tad Seaborn	....	assistant editor
Michael Toll	....	dailies telecine assistant (uncredited)

Music Department
Brian Arbuckle	....	composer: song "Choral Fantasy" Trailer
Jim Bruening	....	music production assistant
Jennifer L. Dunnington	....	music editor
Jeff Grace	....	music crew
Greg Laporta	....	music programmer
Kevin Mahonchak	....	music preparation
Michael Tremante	....	music co-producer
John Wriggle	....	music coordinator

Transportation Department
Martin Birmingham	....	production driver
Joe Hall	....	transportation coordinator
Jazz Helie	....	transportation coordinator
Ian Lisi	....	driver: grip
Garry Phaneuf	....	transportation captain

Other crew
Nicole Achim	....	production controller
Ian Aegis	....	location manager: UK
Vicki Allen	....	floor runner
Victoria Allen	....	floor runner: UK
Anna Beben	....	production coordinator
Colin Bishop	....	projectionist: Mr. Youngs Preview Theatre
Rupert Bray	....	location scout: UK
David Broder	....	location manager
James Chasey	....	stand-in
Rachel Clarke	....	second assistant accountant
Sean Coyne	....	key craft service
Linda Drew	....	assistant: Ms. Richardson
Prudence Emery	....	unit publicist
Annie Gilhooly	....	production coordinator
Brenda Gilles	....	set supervisor
Helen Gregory	....	assistant production coordinator
James Griffiths	....	production office runner
Lon J. Hall	....	legal counsel: Canada
Allin Kempthorne	....	stand-in
Emily Man	....	assistant: Ms. Bailey
Jill McCullough	....	dialogue coach
Blanche McDermaid	....	script supervisor
Susan Merritt	....	production accountant
Kelly Messias	....	assistant: Mr. Fiennes
Stephen Naulls	....	assistant accountant
Derry Neilan	....	projectionist: Mr. Youngs Preview Theatre
Ben Ockrent	....	production office runner
Davina Pardo	....	assistant: Mr. Cronenberg
Beth Partridge	....	stand-in
Julie Pereira	....	assistant production coordinator
Agnes Pifeteau	....	projectionist: Mr. Youngs Preview Theatre
Alan Pinniger	....	location manager: UK
George Ploszczansky	....	assistant location manager: Toronto
Bob Presner	....	completion bond
Barbara Pullan	....	location manager
John Rakich	....	location production assistant
John Roy	....	accountant
Adam Samuelson	....	louma crane technician
Peter Silverhall	....	stand-in
Sue Sparling	....	first assistant accountant
Clea Tammes	....	assistant: Mr. Roeg
Douglas Thompson	....	production assistant
Anna Worley	....	script supervisor: UK

Production Companies

• Capitol Films (presents)
• Artists Independent Productions (presents) (as Artists Independent Network)
• Odeon Films (in association with)
• Media Suits (in association with)
• Catherine Bailey Ltd.
• CBL
• Grosvenor Park Productions
• Davis-Films
• Metropolitan Films
• Redbus Pictures
• Téléfilm Canada (with participation of)

Distributors

• Arti Film (2003) (Netherlands) (theatrical)
• Buena Vista International
• Columbia TriStar Film (2004) (Germany) (theatrical)
• Columbia TriStar Home Entertainment (2004) (Germany) (DVD)
• Dutch FilmWorks (DFW) (200?) (Netherlands) (VHS)
• E Stars Films (2005) (China) (TV)
• Emerald (2008) (Argentina) (DVD)
• Fandango
• Finnkino (2003) (Finland) (theatrical)
• Manga Films (2002) (Spain) (all media)
• Media Suits
• Metropolitan Filmexport (France)
• Monopole-Pathé (2002) (Switzerland) (theatrical)
• Movie Star (Brazil) (DVD)
• Movie Star (Brazil) (VHS)
• Odeon Films
• Redbus Film Distribution (UK)
• Scanbox Entertainment (2003) (Finland) (DVD) (VHS)
• Sony Pictures Classics (USA)
• Sony Pictures Home Entertainment (2004) (Germany) (DVD)
• Yleisradio (YLE) ((2006) (2007)) (Finland) (TV) (TV2)

Special Effects

• ASA Visual Effects

Other Companies

• Casting Collective  extras casting
• Cuppa Coffee Animation  opening title sequence
• Film Effects  opticals
• Footsteps Post-Production Sound  foley recorded at
• Hand Prop  props supplied by
• Lee Lighting  lighting
• Malde & Co.  production auditors
• Mr. Youngs Preview Theatre  dailies
• Panavision UK  camera equipment provided by
• Starcraft  craft services
• Tattersall Casablanca  re-recorded at

Also Known As:

Spider (Canada: French title)

MPAA:

Rated R for sexuality, brief violence and language.

Runtime:

98 min | Spain:94 min (DVD edition)

Country:

Canada | UK

Language:

English

Colour:

Colour

Aspect Ratio:

1.78 : 1

Sound Mix:

Dolby Digital

Certification:

Iceland:12 | Brazil:14 | Argentina:13 | Australia:MA | Canada:14A | Finland:K-15 | France:-12 | Germany:12 | Hong Kong:IIB | Japan:PG-12 | New Zealand:R13 | Norway:15 | Philippines:PG-13 | Portugal:M/16 | Singapore:M18 | South Korea:18 | Spain:18 | Sweden:15 | Switzerland:16 (canton of Geneva) | Switzerland:16 (canton of Vaud) | UK:15 | USA:R

Filming Locations:

Cinespace Film Studios, Toronto, Ontario, Canada

Company:

Capitol Films

Trivia:

Samuel Beckett was one of the director's touchstones for the film. Photographs of the playwright were pinned around the sets, and Fiennes' hairstyle is even modeled after Beckett's.

Goofs:

Crew or equipment visible: There is a reflection of a crewmember in the building window while Spider walks on Kitchener street.

Quotes:

Mrs. Wilkinson: What've you done? What have you done?

Movie Connections:

Featured in "SexTV: Dark Desires: Sexuality in the Horror Film (#5.15)" (2003)

A much misunderstood film

There are always films that people will either see what the director was going for, or simply won't connect with the film. David Cronenberg's Spider is one of those films.

Many comparisons can be made between this film and the Ron Howard film A Beautiful Mind in that they both examine the complexities of mental illness. Whereas Howard took the glamorous Hollywood style approach -- complete with government agents and associated adventures -- Cronenberg continues to prove that less is more when it comes to film. Spider is significantly more effective in that it does not candy coat its subject, rather approaching the scenario with brute realism.

Cronenberg is certainly one of the most under-appreciated and misunderstood directors of our age in terms of popular appeal. His films are not for mass marketing and popcorn sales, but rather are psychologically and sociologically challenging to the viewer. Cronenberg films generally demand a surrender from the audience to an unsettling reality, and Spider is no different. The fractured perception offered by the protagonist as displayed through Cronenberg's eye is truly unique and refreshing.

If you are the type of person who is up for quick, easy entertainment, Spider is not your film. But, if you want to explore a brilliantly crafted submergence into the strange reality of a mentally ill person, Spider will leave you wanting more. Cronenberg has once again proved that there are few directors of his talent and skill. His ability to create a wholly original feel in film incomparable to any of his contemporaries is always welcomed by this viewer.