“The Giant Spider Invasion”, an independent release in 1975, was actually a successful movie landing in the top 50 of gross profitable movies of that year. Afterwards it was featured several times on the ABC television network then became a classic on a Mystery Science Theater 3000 episode.
What Happens When Northern Rednecks Mistake Alien Spider Eggs For Diamonds
A black hole opens up creating a portal where a meteor comes through streaking across the night sky hurdling to Earth and crashes near a dilapidated farm somewhere around rural Merrill, Wisconsin. Redneck Farmer Dan and his alcoholic wife Ev parting for the evening as Farmer Dan tells her he is going to a revival meeting of an End of Days preacher who’s really annoying a lot of townsfolk. Actually he’s going to see his prostitute/waitress girlfriend Helga. Ev runs out of booze and calls Dutch the barkeep to bring some over to her and she pays for it by screwing him. As Farmer Dan is driving home, girdle in hand, the meteor crashes on his farm land causing high winds and electrical disturbances, Drunk Farmer Dan is oblivious to this and goes home. Ev’s much younger sister Terry, running around in her underwear greets Farmer Dan and he chases her around the kitchen wanting to spank her. Yes, Farmer Dan is a drunken pervert. The next day Ev convinces him to investigate the strange occurrence and they walk the farm where he’s also growing pot and discover where a meteor hit and find what Farmer Dan thinks are giant diamonds but are really giant mutant giant spider eggs. Possibly dreaming of riches and owning franchises of run-down farms he begins to hoard them. Farmer Dan then goes into town to get a value of them. Meanwhile, back at the shack, Ev, drowned in booze, has a sobering life altering experience when the eggs begin to hatch in her bedroom. Does a similar fate await Farmer Dan and Terry? The town of Merrill? Wisconsin? The Packers? The World?
Let’s Move Along, Nothing To See Here.
Meanwhile, Sheriff Jones (Alan Hale Jr. - that’s right, “Skipper from “Gilligan’s Island”) keeps fielding calls from townsfolk complaining about the Preacher and other calls about the disturbance that happened and decides to investigate aided by young cub reporter Davey who’s dad owns the local town tattler. The government is also curious about the disturbance and enlists NASA scientist Dr. J.R. Vance (Steve Brodie – not the same guy who jumped off the Brooklyn Bridge though you may wish he did) and astronomer Dr. Jenny Lange (Barbara Hale – Della Street from Perry Mason) to investigate as well. They team up with Sheriff Jones and Davey to try and stop the oncoming giant spider invasion.
The Castaways
The cast of the film features a lot of familiar faces. “Skipper’ Alan Hale Jr. is best known for “Gilligan’s Island” and loved making “B” movies and has numerous credits. He liked the work, the volume and it was easy money to him. He was also quite the entrepreneur owning several businesses and restaurants. While watching you’re just waiting for him say “Hey Little Buddy!”.
Barbara Hale (no relation) was a 2 time Emmy Award winning actress for her role in “Perry Mason” and this one of the few films she acted in after the series. Her husband also has a minor role in the film.
Leslie Parrish (Ev) had some solid movie credits. “The Manchurian Candidate” and associate producer on “Jonathan Livingston Seagull”, written by her husband author Richard Bach and was featured in Bach’s aerial metaphysical novel “One”. She was also an environmental and social activist.
Co-writer Robert Easton starred as Farmer Dan Kester and added some of the humor in the script of what was suppose to be a straight horror movie after being locked in a remote cabin for close to two weeks to motivate him to finish. You can see some of the cabin fever in the film.
Steve Brodie, Dr. Vance, and his son Kevin, Davey, star in the film as well.
This is the third film from director and local Wisconsin legend Bill Rabane, the man whose first film “Monster a Go-Go” (1965) is widely considered one of the worst science fiction/horror films ever made. This one’s pretty bad as well, but not as bad and Rabane seriously considered turning it into a musical. The special effects where a Volkswagen dressed like a spider drive through town and cheap looking spider puppets just add to the fun and watch-ability in unintended humor. The acting is pretty good considering the material. In closing, “Go Packers!”
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