Spider Baby or, the Maddest Story Ever Told Synopsis & Review: Plot Summary

🎯 Quick Overview

😅 Plot Summary – Badly Explained

Inbred family with a weird disease lives in a spooky house, and their chauffeur tries to keep them from eating everyone.

🍿 Spider Baby or, the Maddest Story Ever Told: Detailed Plot Synopsis

Introduction to the Merrye Family

The film introduces the Merrye family, afflicted with ‘Merrye Syndrome,’ a genetic disorder causing mental regression and sociopathic tendencies. Bruno, the loyal chauffeur, acts as caretaker for the last of the Merrye children: Elizabeth, Virginia, and Ralph. They live in a dilapidated mansion, isolated from the outside world to conceal their dangerous condition.

Arrival of Distant Relatives

The family’s secluded existence is threatened when distant relatives, Peter and Emily, arrive with their lawyer, Schlocker, seeking to claim the Merrye estate. They are unaware of the true nature of the Merrye children and the dangers that lurk within the mansion. Bruno attempts to protect the children and maintain the family’s secret.

Chaos and Violence

As the relatives investigate the mansion, the Merrye children’s behavior becomes increasingly erratic and violent. Virginia, obsessed with spiders, traps and attacks Peter. Ralph’s animalistic urges intensify, posing a threat to Emily and Ann, Schlocker’s assistant. Bruno struggles to control the escalating chaos and prevent further bloodshed.

⚠️ Spoilers and Ending Explained

🎬 Cast & Characters

• Bruno (Lon Chaney Jr.): The loyal chauffeur and caretaker of the Merrye family, dedicated to protecting them from the outside world despite their homicidal tendencies.
• Virginia (Jill Banner): One of the Merrye siblings, a childlike teenager obsessed with spiders and prone to trapping and attacking people.
• Elizabeth (Beverly Washburn): Another of the Merrye siblings, appearing innocent but sharing her family’s predilection for violence.
• Ralph (Sid Haig): The most animalistic of the Merrye siblings, a largely nonverbal and physically imposing simpleton.
• Emily (Carol Ohmart): The greedy and self-serving aunt who arrives with intentions to claim the Merrye estate.
• Peter (Quinn K. Redeker): The nephew accompanying Emily, initially friendly but drawn into the dangers of the Merrye mansion.
• Schlocker (Karl Schanzer): The lawyer representing Emily and Peter, adding a comedic element with his weaselly demeanor and appearance.

💬 Memorable Quotes

• Bruno: “Screams and moans and bats and bones / Teenage monsters in haunted homes…” – The opening song, sung by Bruno (Lon Chaney Jr.), sets the darkly comedic tone of the film.
• Virginia: “Cannibal spiders do.” – Virginia’s response when Elizabeth says spiders don’t eat spiders, encapsulating her twisted logic.
• Bruno: “It’s going to be a full moon tonight.” – Bruno’s reference to Chaney’s iconic role in The Wolfman, during a discussion of horror films.

💰Box Office

• Budget: $65,000
• Domestic Gross: N/A
• Worldwide Gross: N/A

💥 Spider Baby or, the Maddest Story Ever Told Reviews

Personal Review

Okay, ‘Spider Baby’ is just plain bonkers, and I loved it. The way they mixed the creepy and the comedic was really something else. Lon Chaney Jr. was fantastic. I couldn’t help but feel for him trying to wrangle those demented kids. That dinner scene? Unforgettable! It’s not gonna be for everyone, but if you’re into weird and twisted, give it a shot.

• Who would enjoy:
  • “Fans of cult classic horror films”
  • “Viewers interested in black comedy and dark humor”
  • “Admirers of Lon Chaney Jr. and Sid Haig”
  • “Those seeking unique and bizarre movie experiences”
• Content warnings ⚠:
  • “Violence and gore”
  • “Cannibalism”
  • “Implied incest”
  • “Disturbing themes”

Professional Reviews

• Rollingstone.com: “While Spider Baby may not be that scary it’s definitely creepy. It’s a web of funny dialogue and witty scenes and I’m not afraid to tell you that I was caught in it.
• MovieWeb: “Lon Chaney gives an extremely good performance and he really makes you feel as if his character loves this kids and would do anything for them.
• Internet Movie Database: “Spider Baby is just another version of The Texas Chainsaw Massacre. Spider Baby is a good movie to watch at a teen get-together or alone. A good time to watch the movie would be late at night as this is a horror film.

Audience Reactions

The film’s unique blend of horror and dark humor creates a disturbingly funny atmosphere that stays with you.: Viewers consistently praise the film’s originality, memorable characters, and Lon Chaney Jr.’s performance.

Overall Consensus: A cult classic that blends horror and dark humor in a uniquely disturbing and memorable way.

Awards

🛠️ Behind the Scenes

• “The film was originally funded by two real estate developers.”
• “Due to a bankruptcy filing, the film was locked away for years before finally being released.”
• “Lon Chaney Jr. reportedly stayed sober during most of the filming, which was a rare occurrence at that point in his career.”
• “The Smith Estate in Highland Park, Los Angeles, served as the filming location for the Merrye family mansion.”

🖥️ How to Watch Spider Baby or, the Maddest Story Ever Told?

As a cult classic, ‘Spider Baby’ availability varies. Check streaming services like Shudder, Tubi, and Criterion Channel. Purchase or rent options may be available on Prime Video, Apple TV, Google Play, or Vudu. Physical copies on DVD or Blu-ray are often found online at retailers like Amazon and specialized horror movie stores.

🎥 Similar Movies

If you enjoyed Spider Baby or, the Maddest Story Ever Told, you might like these similar films:

• The Texas Chain Saw Massacre (1974): Features a similarly deranged family of cannibalistic killers in a rural setting.
• House of 1000 Corpses (2003): Rob Zombie’s film pays homage to Spider Baby with its focus on a bizarre and murderous family.
• What Ever Happened to Baby Jane? (1962): Explores themes of madness and dysfunction within a family, albeit with a different tone.
• Dementia 13 (1963): A low-budget horror film with elements of suspense and family secrets, directed by Francis Ford Coppola.

🛒 Spider Baby or, the Maddest Story Ever Told Related Products

• Spider Baby [Blu-ray]: Experience the restored cult classic in high definition, includes bonus features like cast interviews and behind-the-scenes footage. Blu-Ray version sold on Amazon
• Spider Baby Poster: High-quality print featuring the iconic poster art from ‘Spider Baby’. Perfect for adding a touch of cult horror to your home or office, sold on Amazon.
• Cannibal Orgy (The Maddest Story Ever Told) – Vintage Movie Poster: Professionally restored high-quality print of one of the original posters. Perfect for framing, Amazon sold.
• Sid Haig: An Anthology of Mad and Macabre Tales (The Spider Baby Collection): Autobiography – Anthology of the macabre career of Sid Haig, from The Spider Baby movie to Rob Zombie fame. Sold on Amazon.

🎧 Soundtrack

Spider Baby or, the Maddest Story Ever Told features a captivating soundtrack that enhances the movie’s atmosphere and emotional impact. Here are some notable tracks:

• “Spider Baby Theme” – performed by Lon Chaney Jr.

You can find the complete soundtrack on Amazon Music and Apple Music.

🤨 FAQ

🔥 Bonus Content

Spider Baby – Official Video – Kid Congo & The Pink Monkey Birds

Did you know there’s a catchy song called ‘Spider Baby’ that was actually in the movie? This music video by Kid Congo & The Pink Monkey Birds is a wild tribute to the film – it’s a fun, psychedelic take that really captures the movie’s quirky vibe!

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