Movie |
Eco-horror | Hotel
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1978 | John 'Bud'
Best Supporting Actor | 1978 | Woody
Best Actor | 1978 | William
Best Horror Film | 1978
Budget 500,000 USD
Box Office Collection 17,000,000 USD
Tiffany Bolling was cast as the female lead because she was the only actress who auditioned for the film who had no problem working with spiders.
$50,000 of the film's budget went toward the spiders. The producers offered to pay $10.00 each for live tarantulas, and the handlers collected 5,000 of them.
The film crew painted thousands of fake spiders on buildings along the main business district in Camp Verde, AZ, to give the impression of a large swarm of spiders. After the production wrapped, they hastily repainted the town without much attention to details. For several years afterward, the stenciled tarantulas were still easily visible on the lighter-colored buildings in Camp Verde, hidden only by a thin coat of cheap cover-up paint.
The large amount of tarantulas kept on-hand led to some unusual production difficulties. Not only did each one have to be kept warm, but because of the arachnids' cannibalistic tendencies, all 5,000 of them had to be kept in separate containers. Additionally, tarantulas are usually shy around people, so fans and air tubes often had to be used to get them to even move toward their "victims". Indeed, in a number of the scenes where the tarantulas are "attacking" people, it is obvious to the viewer that they are actually just moving around, usually away from their intended "victims".
Contrary to popular belief (and the film), the venom of most North American tarantulas is not deadly to humans, causing no more harm than a bee sting (unless, of course, the person is allergic to the venom). The worst injury most of the actors suffered while handling the tarantulas was troublesome itching caused by the spiders shedding their urticating bristles.
"Birch Colby: Are you crazy, lady? This is our home, and no damn spiders are gonna run us out!"
"Betty Johnson: I understand you're... you're a scientist. You know, you and Vern have a lot in common. Diane Ashley: Oh... uhh, really? Vern Johnson: That's how I make all my money... kinda scientific you know... through chemicals. Diane Ashley: Oh, you're a chemist? Betty Johnson: You don't understand, Vern invented a new kind of chemical toilet... you know the kind they use at construction sites. Vern Johnson: Sold the business though... sold out to my partner... just couldn't take the pressure anymore. [laughs] Vern Johnson: Uhh, say... [looks over his shoulder at his wife] Vern Johnson: Uhh, say, can I buy you a drink? A pretty girl like you shouldn't be drinking alone. Diane Ashley: No thank you, Mr. and Mrs. Johnson... [looks at the bartender] Diane Ashley: Umm, good night. [leaves]"
