“Horrors of Spider Island,” also known as “Body in the Web,” is a 1960 German-American horror film directed by Fritz Böttger. The plot follows a group of dancers who crash land on a deserted island inhabited by giant spiders.
The film begins with a group of eight dancers and their manager, Gary, boarding a small airplane to perform in Singapore. However, the plane experiences mechanical issues and crashes into the ocean, leaving the survivors stranded on a remote island.
As they explore the island, they soon realize that they are not alone. Giant spiders, mutated by atomic radiation, roam the island and attack the group. One by one, the dancers are killed off in gruesome ways, while the remaining survivors try to find a way off the island and escape the spider creatures.
As tensions rise, Gary discovers a secret laboratory on the island that was conducting experiments on spiders. He learns that the spiders were injected with a serum that turned them into aggressive predators, and that they were intentionally released on the island to test their behavior in a natural environment.
The survivors eventually discover a way to signal for help and are rescued by a passing ship. However, Gary stays behind on the island, determined to destroy the laboratory and put an end to the spider experiments once and for all.
The film was notable for its use of scantily clad female dancers and its low-budget special effects, including the use of live tarantulas and cheap rubber spider props. It was also one of the first films to depict giant spiders as the main antagonists. Despite its flaws, the film has since gained a cult following and is considered a classic of the B-movie genre.
Directors:
Fritz Böttger
Writer:
Fritz Böttger, Eldon Howard, Albert G. Miller
Stars:
Harald Maresch, Helga Franck, Alexander D’Arcy
