They give you goosebumps, they seem to appear out of nowhere and you can’t stand the sight of them, but they have every right to be here, just like you and me. Yes, social media influencers are truly a divisive group: they’re all over your algorithm like creepy crawlies under a rock in the backyard. Always, Spider Island may have found a cathartic cure for these social media ills: a strong dose of Mother Nature and a treasure trove of her eight-legged offspring.
In order to promote the brand-new exclusive vacation resort, narcissistic and self-centered manager David (Andy Nyman) invites a wave of glamorous, sexy influencers and “content creators” to the tropical paradise to promote it to their millions of followers. This includes people from the world of fashion, beauty and culture, as well as Mongoose (Divian Ladwa), an influencer whose followers watch him torture himself in various ways for their viewing pleasure.
In the midst of this social unrest is undercover journalist Clara (Rose Williams), determined to expose the “greenwashing” that took place during the hotel’s construction. She is helped by Ed (Justin Daniels Anene), an environmentalist who has a soft spot for nature and Clara.
During her time on the island, Clara reluctantly reconnects with her ex-father, Curtis (Tim McInnerny), a former actor who promised to conserve and protect the island but has done a better job of saving his perpetual hangover. Clara still carries resentment over the loss of the island as well as that of her mother. The two men were close and his death drove a wedge between father and daughter.
While the alcohol flows and the likes pour in, influencers complain about bad Wi-Fi and no air conditioning. However, that’s the least of their worries, as something far more dangerous and frightening than being deplatformed awaits them. And he waits en masse. Spiders have been chased out of basements and there are influencers as far as the eye can see.
There is nothing that exploits this feeling of squirm and discomfort more than spiders, especially when there are many of them. You instantly know what it’s like to have creepy crawlies on you or realize there are swarms of them in your presence, and Spider Island exploits this feeling very well.
Director Chris Smith has tackled a broad spectrum of horror since his debut around 20 years ago, from a killer on the London Underground to the Black Death to a time loop thriller inspired by Greek mythology. Spider Island is more consistent with Breakupa fun and anarchic comedy.
Andy Nyman and Tim McInnerny lead the cast and are the truly standout performers. Nyman particularly stands out as a despicable and nasty hotel owner who goes so far as to cover up deaths in order to avoid bad publicity.
The use of real-life influencers/actors and the montage of vertical sequences that guests film are a nice touch that blends cinematic and social. It’s a shame it hasn’t been used more: seeing spiders jump in your face is always a good way to make anyone jump.
The message of conservation and environmentalism is present everywhere – sometimes a little too much – but Spider Island doesn’t go in line with many creature features by having giant mutated creatures ripping people in half. The threat comes from volume and venom. One bite and you’re gone.
Amid all this rampant carnage, there’s a poignant moment where the influencers wonder if they should share the revelation of “greenwashing” at the station, and ultimately, they decide not to, ironically demonstrating that many social media profiles have a paymaster. The island’s influencers don’t want to bite the hand that feeds: the spiders will do it for them.
Spider Island makes a big nod to the “Nature Bites” films of the ’70s and ’80s, but, refreshingly, it doesn’t take itself quite as seriously. It’s a perfect show for a late-night crowd.
Movie rating: 3.5/5
