Cronenberg’s controlled direction and Fiennes’s mesmerizing performance make Spider a riveting portrayal of one fractured mind haunted by a painful past.

| Original Score: 4/5 | Nov 12, 2024

A film built around a predictable twist that Cronenberg seems ill-suited for. Fiennes delivers a decent performance, but most of the present-day scenes feel inconsequential compared to the past. Richardson's dual roles are the film's greatest asset

| Nov 7, 2024

Cronenberg’s more internalized era doesn’t skimp on the devastating effects of self-destruction — in fact, it arguably finds them even more pronounced.

| Jun 15, 2023

Fiennes delivers an extraordinary performance.

| Original Score: 3/4 | Dec 23, 2022

Cronenberg’s most delicately poetic work yet.

| Original Score: A | Sep 17, 2022

Cronenberg's thoroughly creepy and hypnotic film often has the texture of damp wool, his evocation of claustrophobic brooding so intense you can nearly smell the mildew.

| Feb 4, 2020

Compared to his previous literary adaptations Dead Ringers and Naked Lunch, however, Spider has little bite.

| Nov 10, 2018

An engrossing work by Cronenberg, and you have to admire his steadfastness and sense of austerity in committing to such a quiet, pungent story on the legacy of mental trauma.

| Original Score: 4/5 | Nov 10, 2018

The film's slow, plodding pace relies too much on strong performances and grubby splashes of "atmosphere" rather than genuine emotion and plot.

| Jan 3, 2018

Full Review | Original Score: A- | Dec 25, 2012

| Original Score: 4/5 | Dec 7, 2007

Spider deserves much more than it'll probably get, it's a fine and enjoyable film from a cinematic master.

| Original Score: A- | Jun 21, 2007

| Original Score: 3/5 | Dec 30, 2006

| Original Score: 4/5 | Dec 6, 2005

| Original Score: 3/4 | Jul 16, 2005

| Original Score: 3/5 | Mar 5, 2005

... the film's slow, toilsome journey does not lead to any particularly shocking or interesting revelations.

Full Review | Original Score: B- | Jan 15, 2005

What Cronenberg achieves ultimately in his latest mind bender is the full-scale distraction of his audience.

| Original Score: 3 | Dec 6, 2004

Cronenberg pieces together a compelling portrait of madness, but one which lacks the poignancy to be a rich, moving character study.

| Original Score: 3.5/5 | Sep 30, 2004

Fails to connect with its audience and concludes in a contradictory and jumbled fashion.

| Original Score: 2.5/5 | Aug 13, 2004