Spiderhole (film)

Lore & Background

The plot centers on four homeless art students—Molly (Emma Malin), Luke (Reuben Henry-Biggs), Toby (George Magire), and Zoe (Amy Noble)—who break into an abandoned London house to squat. After settling in, they discover blood on clothes from a wardrobe and become trapped inside, with their tools and phones missing. They find a dank room with four empty chairs and are knocked unconscious by gas seeping under a door. Toby is taken, and the remaining three search for him, discovering a hole in a wall that leads to mutilated body parts. A man in a hazmat suit and surgical mask captures them, cutting out Toby's eye and sawing off Zoe's leg. Molly eventually escapes after sabotaging stairs, knocking the man unconscious, but is locked in a room with a missing girl from a news broadcast who attacks her.

Reader's Guide

Spiderhole received a 1 out of 5 rating from The Guardian. Philip French of The Observer called it 'Murky, morbid and unconvincing.' PopMatters compared it to the film Hostel. The film is notable as Daniel Simpson's directorial debut and for its grim, claustrophobic horror narrative. Its reception highlights critical dismissal, but it remains a reference point for low-budget British horror of the early 2010s.

Did You Know?

• The film is Daniel Simpson's feature film directorial debut.
• The man in the hazmat suit mumbles 'I father fear' when asked why he is torturing the characters.
• The film ends with Molly being attacked by a missing girl from a news broadcast who exhibits animal instincts.
• PopMatters compared Spiderhole to the film Hostel.