Originally published in the UCD College Tribune, 2002

Spider is the story of one mans battle with his past. Dennis Cleg is released from a mental hospital, back into the community he grew up in. Seeing the places that feature so strongly in his memories sends Cleg (or Spider, as his mother used to call him) into a spiral of despair and confusion.

Ralph Fiennes can only be described as mesmerising in his portrayal of Spider. He hardly speaks throughout the film, but mutters, unintelligibly, to himself for most of the time. Spider’s face does not show much emotion, but Fiennes’ eyes betray the depth of turmoil and anguish that Spider has fallen to.

Directed by David Cronenberg, the cinematography is, at times, a little self conscious and the film’s lack of a musical score is slightly unnerving, but this is made up for by its spellbinding leading man. Cronenberg and Fiennes have succeeded in creating a character that  is impossible to predict, because as Spider goes further and further into his childhood he becomes less and less logical. In the same vein, though, it is impossible to feel anything, but sympathy and fondness for this man, whose past may be turbulent, but he is gentle and mild.

Spider is not an easy film to watch. It is intense and unrelenting, but it is also haunting and mesmerising.