Cobweb didn’t exactly make waves when it was released in July, but its Blu-ray release arrives well-timed for the scary season, which suits it much better than summer . Samuel Bodin’s directorial debut has a talented cast that includes Lizzy Caplan, Antony Starr, and Cleopatra Coleman, along with child actor Woody Norman, who remains one to watch. With some fun ideas, a unique framework, and some cool practical effects, Cobweb ends up impressing despite its limited resources.
“Eight-year-old Peter is haunted by a mysterious, constant tapping from inside his bedroom wall – a tapping that his parents say is all his imagination ,” says the synopsis. “As Peter’s fears intensify, he believes his parents (Lizzy Caplan and Antony Starr) may be hiding a terrible, dangerous secret and questions their trust. And for a child, what could be more terrifying than that?”
What makes Cobweb stand out is the performance. Caplan and Starr are excellent as the parents, delivering terrifying performances that really leave the audience guessing as to whether they are concerned parents, abusive psychopaths, or somewhere in between. Although it is not particularly scary at any point, the film is always entertaining, and Norman does a good job of showing the natural fear of a child in such a situation.
The film will leave a lot of viewers to digest, especially if you are involved in what you saw and trying to make sense of it. How much is to be taken literally? Could it be a child’s imagination that leads to tragedy, and the more supernatural elements just used to cope? There are many ways to read the events that take place, which makes it a prime candidate for retellings. This is one of those movies that is just as fun to talk about with friends as it is to watch.
The specifics don’t really go into explaining it – which is fine and almost ideal since we don’t need literal answers for every piece of art -, but I’d still like to report to hear a director talking about what. he entered the film. There are three short features, however, totaling about 8.5 minutes. They give a realistic view of the practical effect that went into their final act, use a child’s perspective to tell the story, and exploit primitive fears, such as the fear of the dark and spiders. . Although I wish there were a few more to sink your teeth into, they complement the film well and are worth checking out after you’ve finished watching.
Cobweb Blu-ray Review: The Final Verdict
Cobweb ends up punching above its weight, and there’s no better time than fall to revisit it. Just as interesting a film to engage with as it is to watch, it is a quick and repeatable film worth discussing. While there aren’t a ton of special features, what is here is an interesting look at production. While this isn’t one of the best horror movies of the year, it’s still a fun watch that’s worth your time.
Disclosure: The publisher sent us a copy for our Cobweb Blu-ray review.
