A journalist descends into the dark underbelly of the Iranian holy city of Mashhad as she investigates the serial killings...
A journalist descends into the dark underbelly of the Iranian holy city of Mashhad as she investigates the serial killings of sex workers by the so called "Spider Killer", who believes he is cleansing the streets of sinners. Stars Zar Amir-Ebrahimi in an award-winning performance.
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Where to watch Holy Spider
83 %141 reviewsRotten Tomatoes® rating
77 %193 reviewsAudience score rating
"If the first half of the film shies away from the cheap thrills of its serial killer story, the pointed banality of its final chapters proves as horrifying this genre ever gets."
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IndieWire
IndieWire"In Holy Spider, the devil is in those devastating details."
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Variety
Variety"A rather Hollywoodised, but certainly very effective killer-centric script."
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The Guardian
The Guardian"Equal parts gripping and disturbing..."
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Hollywood Reporter
Hollywood Reporter"It’s profoundly compelling, expertly made, and quite intentionally horrifying."
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The Telegraph
The Telegraph"An intense and gripping dramatisation that, a few liberties apart, does justice to a disturbing true story."
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Total Film
Total Film"It wouldn’t work quite so well... were it not for Iranian stage actor Mehdi Bajestani in the lead..."
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Screen Daily
Screen Daily"Abbasi’s film feels more invested in the killer than his victims..."
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Little White Lies
Little White Lies"The whole film is pitched between a howl of rage and a gasp of disbelief."
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The Irish Times
The Irish Times"A brutally effective thriller."
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Slash Film
Slash Film"A dark, atmospheric character study of one of the most difficult humans to sympathise with."
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Indian Express
Indian ExpressHoly Spider | Details
Award winner- Best Actress (Amir-Ebrahimi), Cannes 2022
- Rating
- R18+, High impact sex scenes
- Runtime
- 118
- Genre
- Drama, Thriller
- Country of origin
- Denmark, France, Germany, Sweden
