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Web of the Spider poster

WEB OF THE SPIDER

Nella stretta morsa del ragno

1971 • DE HMDB
August 26, 1971

Alan Foster, a professional American journalist, travels to London to meet with Edgar Allan Poe for an interview. While in London, Alan soon finds himself in the company of Lord Blackwood, and Alan accepts a bet to spend a night in his castle

Directors

Antonio Margheriti Antonio Margheriti

Cast

Anthony Franciosa as Alan Foster

Anthony Franciosa

Alan Foster

 Michèle Mercier as Elisabeth Blackwood

Michèle Mercier

Elisabeth Blackwood

 Klaus Kinski as Edgar Allan Poe

Klaus Kinski

Edgar Allan Poe

 Peter Carsten as Dr. Carmus

Peter Carsten

Dr. Carmus

 Silvano Tranquilli as William Perkins

Silvano Tranquilli

William Perkins

Karin Field

Julia

 Irina Maleeva as Elsie Perkins

Irina Maleeva

Elsie Perkins

 Raf Baldassarre as Herbert

Raf Baldassarre

Herbert

 Enrico Osterman as Lord Thomas Blackwood

Enrico Osterman

Lord Thomas Blackwood

 Marco Bonetti as Maurice

Marco Bonetti

Maurice

 Vittorio Fanfoni

Vittorio Fanfoni

 Carla Mancini

Carla Mancini

 Romalı Perihan

Romalı Perihan
Horror
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Crew
Production: Giovanni Addessi (Producer)
Screenplay: Giovanni Grimaldi (Screenplay) — Bruno Corbucci (Screenplay) — Antonio Margheriti (Screenplay)
Music: Riz Ortolani (Original Music Composer)
Cinematography: Sandro Mancori (Director of Photography) — Guglielmo Mancori (Director of Photography)

REVIEWS (1)

Marco Castellini •
The Verdict

The writer Edgar Allan Poe makes a bet with a young journalist: if he manages to spend the night in a castle haunted by ghosts, he will receive a reward of one hundred pounds sterling. The journalist bravely accepts, but in the castle the spirits are real and arriving at dawn safe and sound will not be easy.

The writer Edgar Allan Poe makes a bet with a young journalist: if he manages to spend the night in a castle haunted by ghosts, he will receive a reward of one hundred pounds sterling. The journalist bravely accepts, but in the castle the spirits are real and arriving at dawn safe and sound will not be easy. Margheriti directs this new color version of his «Danse macabre», with Klaus Kinski in the role of Poe and Antony Franciosa in the role of the brave journalist, but despite the good performances of the two good actors, this reissue does not manage to have the charm of the original. Watch it only if you cannot obtain «Danse macabre».
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Questions about Web of the Spider

Where can I watch Web of the Spider in streaming?

Web of the Spider is currently available on Cultpix.

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How long is Web of the Spider?

Web of the Spider runs 102 minutes.

When did Web of the Spider come out?

Web of the Spider was released in 1971.

Who directed Web of the Spider?

Web of the Spider was directed by Antonio Margheriti.

What rating does Web of the Spider have?

The HorrorCult editors give Web of the Spider 2.0 skulls out of 5, from a single review.

Read the reviews

COMMUNITY REVIEWS (1)

Wuchak

Wuchak

7 /10

A macabre dance at Blackwood Castle in England on All Hallows' Eve

In the late 1840s, an American writer (Anthony Franciosa) meets Edgar Allan Poe (Klaus Kinski) on his visit to London and questions the authenticity of his tales. He is thus challenged to spend the night in Blackwood castle, which is reportedly haunted and no one has yet fulfilled the bet and come back alive.

“Web of the Spider” (1971) was called “In the Spider’s Tight Grip” in Italian (translated) and is a remake of the director’s 1964 B&W film “Castle of Blood,” aka “Dance Macabre.” It was erroneously advertised as based on Poe’s “Night of the Living Dead,” but no such story exists (although he has a poem called “Spirits of the Dead”). Scriptwriters Bruno Corbucci (Sergio’s brother) and Giovanni Grimaldi drew from Poe's literary traditions rather than from a particular text.

Franciosa is seriously reminiscent of William Shatner in this particular production, although he was actually older by 2.5 years, not to mention four inches taller. On the feminine side of things, redhead Michèle Mercier is stunning. She was 32 during shooting in March, 1971, but looked older (her character was only 26, but I guess it works out since she’s actually dead). Brunette Irina Maleeva is also lovely while Karin Field is worth a mention, but the latter’s character, Julia, is a turn-off.

I prefer this to “Castle of Blood” simply because it’s in color, not to mention the presence of Michèle Mercier and Irina Maleeva. I also favor Franciosa as the protagonist. There’s an exquisiteness to the proceedings, particularly the pre-Victorian Age costumes and dance sequences, mixed with the creepy ghostly element and the castle setting. I also valued the insights on spectral happenings.

I saw the English version, which runs about 90-93 minutes and is better than the 85-minute German rendition, but I’d love to see one of the fuller Italian versions, which run like 15-18 minutes longer. Needless to say, we’re being shortchanged by the butchered English print!

It was shot at Castello Massimo, which is 37 miles northeast of Rome, and at Dino De Laurentiis’ Italian studio.

GRADE: B

Reviews provided by TMDB