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A journalist descends into the dark underbelly of the Iranian holy city of Mashhad as she investigates the serial killings of sex workers by the so called "Spider Killer", who believes he is cleansing the streets of sinners. (NR, 116 min.)
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Female journalist Rahimi (Zar Amir Ebrahimi) travels to the Iranian holy city of Mashhad to investigate a serial killer who believes he is doing the work of God, cleansing the streets of sinners by murdering sex workers. As the body count mounts, and Rahimi draws closer to exposing his crimes, the opportunity for justice grows harder to attain as the ‘Spider Killer’ is embraced by many as a hero. Based on the horrific true story of serial killer Saeed Hanaei, acclaimed writer-director Ali Abbasi (Border) unveils a gripping crime thriller, and a daring indictment of a society in which rough justice is routinely a fact of life. [Utopia]
Starring: Mehdi Bajestani, Zar Amir-Ebrahimi, Arash Ashtiani
Director: Ali Abbasi
Language: Persian
Genre(s): Crime, Drama, Thriller
"The whole film is pitched between a howl of rage and a gasp of disbelief."
— Donald Clarke, Irish Times
"It’s profoundly compelling, expertly made, and quite intentionally horrifying."
— Tim Robey, The Telegraph
"Holy Spider is a dark, atmospheric character study of one of the most difficult humans to sympathise with."
— Shubhra Gupta, The Indian Express
"Tight, taut and not one beat out of place, Holy Spider captivates from start to finish; it gets its claws in and refuses to let go."
— Alexandra Heller-Nicholas, AWFJ Women on Film
"Holy Spider’s rendition of this grisly tale is powerful and precise, commendably lacking the sensationalistic tone of some serial killer movies."
— Godfrey Cheshire, RogerEbert.com
"A striking film in any case, especially with what is going on in Iran right now... It's well constructed and allows us to see the greater society through this Iranian woman."
— Tim Cogshell, FilmWeek (KPCC - NPR Los Angeles)
"Holy Spider shines a light into the murky corners of a society that emboldens its aggressors. In that sense, the film is essential viewing. Even if it is completely devastating."
— Ryan Leston, Slashfilm
"The brilliance of Holy Spider is how it takes all the gripping, lurid suspense of the serial killer thriller, turns it on its head, and takes it to the next level as symbolic of a corrupted, misogynistic society."
— Andy Howell, Film Threat
"As we begin to follow the trail of journalist Areez Rahimi (Ebrahimi, who received the Best Actress award at Cannes for this role), the film becomes a very effective thriller. Through her, we also experience the country’s entrenched misogyny."
— Marjorie Baumgarten, Austin Chronicle
"It’s impossible not to see this character and this riveting performance by Amir-Ebrahimi and not think of the brave women protesting their treatment and status right now on the streets of Iran’s cities. Arezoo, like hundreds of thousands of her sisters, persists."
— Roger Moore, Movie Nation
"A crisp, engrossing, and disturbing crime thriller. Holy Spider, a grungy Persian noir from Tehran-born and Copenhagen-based filmmaker Ali Abbasi, celebrates the humanity of that killer’s victims, and of Iranian women in general. It also shines a harsh and unforgiving light on a patriarchal society that refuses to do the same."
— Oliver Jones, Observer
