Eight Legged Freaks is a curious effects-filled pastiche of those mutant B-movies of the 1950s and 60s. The plot is of the standard small-town-overrun-by-giant-spiders variety, after the little critters have been exposed to leaking radiation naturally. Local boy made good David Arquette has returned to the town to make amends with the woman he loves (feisty Sheriff Kari Wuhrer) and to stop the dastardly mayor from selling his father's mine. But before he can sort that … mehrout, there is a lot of bug squashing to be done as the CGI spiders cause all manner of havoc and mayhem.

Eight Legged Freaks is admittedly a lot of fun, and there are some great set-pieces to enjoy, including a gang of teenage dirt bikers escaping a horde of jumping spiders. It's also quite gory in places, though with only a couple of decent shocks it's hardly likely to induce large-scale arachnophobia. The spiders are impressive but the CGI is painfully obvious and it never feels real. However, if you can suspend your disbelief for an hour and a half you will enjoy this pacey, fun and action-filled popcorn flick. It doesn't ever take itself too seriously and is certainly a lot more fun than producer Dean Devlin's other genre entries, Godzilla and Independence Day.

Extras:
Audio Commentary with director/co-writer Ellory Elkayem, producer Dean Devlin, and actors Rick Overton & David Arquette (2002)
Additional Scenes (11 Deleted/Extended Scenes) (13:11 in total)
"Creepy Crawly Giants" essay (7 pages)
Cast & Crew:
- David Arquette (Chris McCormack) (1 page)
- Kari Wuhrer (Sheriff Sam Parker) (only listed)
- Scott Terra (Mike Parker) (only listed)
- Doug E. Doug (Harlan) (only listed)
- Scarlett Johansson (Ashley Parker) (only listed)
- Ellory Elkayem & Randy Kornfield (Story by) (1 page)
- Jesse Alexander & Ellory Elkayem (Screenplay by) (1 page)
- Dean Devlin & Bruce Berman (Produced by) (only listed)
- Ellory Elkayem (Directed by) (1 page)
"Larger Than Life" 1997 short film (13:36)
Theatrical Trailer (1:09)
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