MovieChat Forums > Tarantula (1956) Discussion > The most frightening . . .

The most frightening . . .

posted 11 years ago by SSteveL
3 replies | jump to latest

For me, the most frightening size for the tarantula was when we saw it creeping around inside the glass case near the beginning of the film. It was only (!) about 4' in diameter, and much less destructive than what it eventually became, but scary as hell in this smaller size.

When a creature is truly gargantuan (as near the end of the film), it's scary mainly--or solely--because of its size and sheer destructive power. At that scale, it doesn't really matter that it's a spider. It could be a 100' tall chipmunk.

So, I think something is lost, from a horror perspective, when what is naturally horrid to many people (e.g., a spider) is excessively scaled up.

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[–] prbronx5 11 years ago

I agree. The dog sized tarantula was always creepy to me. Once they blow the creature up to Godzilla proportions, the scare factor wears off.

It's part of why I'm not looking forward to Pacific Rim. It looks like it will just be Transformers vs. Godzilla.

[–] Tipster 9 years ago

Excellent point, SSteveL, and I agree completely. If I had to be killed by a giant tarantula, I'd rather it be the colossal one -- it'd be over in a second -- and not the dog-sized one where I'd have a nightmarish last several minutes of life.

[–] vestdennis 8 years ago

I agree with you folks. The building size spider is obviously terrifying but not likely to ever be real. However, the large dog size spider just might actually be possible. Anacondas can grow to incredible sizes (though not like in the ridiculous movies) and be scary. Running across a spider seen like in the glass cage would scare the sh*t outta me more so.