Itsy Bitsy

Last updated
Itsy Bitsy
Itsy Bitsy, Theatrical release poster 2019.jpg
Theatrical release poster
Directed by Micah Gallo
Written byJason Alvino
Bryan Dick
Micah Gallo
Story byMicah Gallo
Starring Bruce Davison
Elizabeth Roberts
Denise Crosby
Arman Darbo
Chloe Perrin
CinematographyMarcos Durian
James Zsigmond
Edited byMatt Latham
Music by Garry Schyman
Frederik Wiedmann
Production
companies
Hacienda Film Co.
Paradox Film Group
Strange Vision
Distributed by Shout! Studios
Release dates
  • August 10, 2019 (2019-08-10)(Popcorn Frights Film Festival)
  • August 30, 2019 (2019-08-30)(United States)
Running time
94 minutes
CountryUnited States
LanguageEnglish

Itsy Bitsy is a 2019 American horror film directed by Micah Gallo, starring Bruce Davison, Elizabeth Roberts, Arman Darbo, and Chloe Perrin, and featuring Denise Crosby, Eileen Dietz, and Matty Cardarople. It centers on a family, who moves into an old, secluded mansion where they are stalked by an ancient entity that takes the form of a giant spider. The film itself was inspired by the poem The Itsy Bitsy Spider, and was released in the United States on August 30, 2019, by Shout! Studios, and it has received mixed reviews from critics.

Contents

Plot

Live-in nurse Kara and her two children Jesse and Cambria have moved into the home of artifact collector and widower Walter Clark, who has recently purchased a fabled artifact, the ‘Black Egg of Maa-Kalaratri'. During the purchase Clark angered the treasure hunter, who returns to the home and smashes the relic. This releases a large prehistoric spider, which bites the treasure hunter, who manages to make it off the property before dying.

The move has been difficult for Kara, as she blames herself for the death of her son Stevie from a car accident where she was the driver. She is also hiding a secret drug addiction. To calm herself and deal with visions of her son Stevie, Kara steals Walter's OxyContin but still experiences a nervous breakdown in a diner. She is reassured by and bonds with Sheriff Jane Dunne, who notices Kara's addiction.

Jesse begins to bond with Walter and the two piece together the relic. Walter also entertains the boy by telling him the legend of Maa-Kalaratri, an ancient spider goddess who became vengeful when people stopped worshipping her. As he is having fun, Jesse neglects to watch Cambria, who is nearly attacked by the spider. This is discovered by Kara, causing a fight between her and Jesse, during which he reveals that Kara had been fired for stealing medication from her last job.

Kara's theft is eventually discovered and she is fired by Walter. She leaves, at which point the spider attacks and kills Walter. Jane responds to reports of his death after Jesse discovers the body. She questions Kara, who believes that it may have something to do with the treasure hunter while Jesse believes that it was Maa-Kalaratri. Kara later scolds Jesse for scaring Cambria and slaps him, an act she quickly regrets.

Later that night Kara investigates the attic, discovering Jesse freeing Cambria from thick spider webs. They discover an empty exoskeleton shed by the spider and flee the attic, at which point the spider attacks and bites Kara, who passes out from the venom. Jesse manages to call Jane for help but is unable to prevent the spider from biting Cambria's hand before seemingly knocking it unconscious. Kara awakens and finds that the spider bit clean through the child's hand and was unable to inject any venom. She manages to administer an epinephrine shot on herself to counteract the spider venom before passing out once more.

Jesse is attacked, and narrowly avoids being bitten before Kara reawakens in time to kill the spider. The trio escape and as Jane arrives with an ambulance, Kara collapses and sees a vision of Stevie. She then finally forgives herself for his death by saving Jesse and Cambria, taking away her need to use drugs. After recovering, Kara and the children move out and swear to stay together no matter what. Unbeknownst to them, however, the spider laid two egg sacs in Walter's house, one in a dollhouse and one in a chest, both of which begin to hatch.

Cast

Release

On April 8, 2019, it was announced that Shout! Studios acquired the North American distribution rights to the film. [1] [2] The film was released in select theatres, digital and on VOD on August 30, 2019. [3] [4] [5]

Reception

Itsy Bitsy received mixed reviews from critics upon its release, with many praising the special effects, cinematography, and atmosphere while criticizing the film's uninteresting characters, and story.

On Rotten Tomatoes the film has an approval rating of 60% based on reviews from 10 critics, with an average rating of 5.5/10. [6]

Matthew Roe of Film Threat gave the film a negative review, writing "Itsy Bitsy has some fantastic human moments inside its bland monster facade and is the only real reason I can recommend the film – however, for some it won’t be enough to redeem the played-out and wonky elements." [7] Culture Crypt rated the film a score of 55 out of 100, criticizing its underwritten characters, script, and finale. The reviewer concluded, "Itsy Bitsy isn’t going to win any awards or become anyone’s favorite film. It’s too grim to grab the gusto it needs to stand out without edging into over-the-top outrageousness. But it is professionally produced, features a few intriguing pops, and makes for a decent diversion during a weekend’s entertainment." [8] Veronique Englebert from The Review Geek scored the film a mixed 5.5 out of 10, writing, "Itsy Bitsy is not a bad spider movie but it’s not a particularly great one either. It fails to reach the same creepiness found in movies like Arachnophobia and takes a while to get into the swing of things. However, the welcome practical effects and empathetic characters help but can’t quite save the day for this average creature feature." [9]

Meagan Navarro from Bloody Disgusting commended the film's special effects and camerawork; but criticized the sparse appearance of its antagonist, unresolved ending, and unlikable characters. Concluding her review, Navarro recommended the film based on the special effect, in spite of its faults, calling it "a big step in the right direction". [10] Noel Murray of the Los Angeles Times gave the film a positive review, praising the film's gothic atmosphere, special effects, and "existential dread". [11]

Related Research Articles

<i>Arachnophobia</i> (film) 1990 film directed by Frank Marshall

Arachnophobia is a 1990 American horror comedy film directed by Frank Marshall in his directorial debut from a screenplay by Don Jakoby and Wesley Strick. Starring Jeff Daniels and John Goodman, the film follows a small California town that becomes invaded by a deadly spider species and the town's residents' struggles against them to avert an ecological crisis.

<i>Kingdom of the Spiders</i> 1977 film by John Cardos

Kingdom of the Spiders is a 1977 American science fiction horror film directed by John "Bud" Cardos and produced by Igo Kantor and Jeffrey M. Sneller. The screenplay is credited to Richard Robinson and Alan Caillou, from an original story by Sneller and Stephen Lodge. Part of the eco-horror subgenre, Kingdom of the Spiders centers on a rural town in Camp Verde, Arizona which lies in the migration path of a horde of tarantulas turned aggressive due to pesticides having depleted their normal food sources. The film was released by Dimension Pictures. It stars William Shatner, Tiffany Bolling, Woody Strode, Lieux Dressler, and Altovise Davis.

<i>Angst</i> (1983 film) 1983 Austrian horror film

Angst is a 1983 Austrian horror film directed by Gerald Kargl, who co-wrote the screenplay with cinematographer and editor Zbigniew Rybczyński. It follows a psychopath recently released from prison and is loosely based on real-life mass murderer Werner Kniesek. It was banned in many European countries on its release for its depictions of violence.

<i>Frightmare</i> (1981 film) 1983 American film

Frightmare is a 1983 American supernatural slasher film written and directed by Norman Thaddeus Vane. It stars Ferdy Mayne, Luca Bercovici, Jennifer Starrett, Nita Talbot and Barbara Pilavin, along with Jeffrey Combs in his horror film acting debut. The film's plot follows a group of drama students who decide to kidnap the corpse of a recently deceased horror movie star. By disrupting his tomb, they unwittingly release an ancient black magic that begins consuming them one by one.

The Itsy Bitsy Spider is a 1993–1996 American animated fantasy-comedy television series. It was based on the Itsy Bitsy Spider short film produced by Hyperion Animation. It was broadcast on the USA Network's USA Cartoon Express. 26 episodes were produced over two seasons.

<i>Lake Mungo</i> (film) 2008 Australian horror film

Lake Mungo is a 2008 Australian psychological horror film written and directed by Joel Anderson. Presented in the pseudo-documentary format with elements of found footage and docufiction, it is Anderson's only film. It follows a family trying to come to terms with the loss of their daughter Alice after she drowns and the potentially supernatural events they experience after it.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Coming Around Again (Carly Simon song)</span> 1986 single by Carly Simon

"Coming Around Again" is a song by American singer-songwriter Carly Simon, written for the film Heartburn (1986) and later from the album of the same name, Coming Around Again (1987). Released as a single in 1986, it became one of Simon's biggest hits, peaking at No. 18 on the US Billboard Hot 100 and No. 5 on the Billboard Adult Contemporary chart. It was also a top-10 hit in Austria, Ireland, the Netherlands, Sweden, and the United Kingdom.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Judah Lewis</span> American actor

Judah Lewis is an American actor. He is known for his roles in the films Demolition (2015), The Babysitter (2017), its sequel The Babysitter: Killer Queen (2020), The Christmas Chronicles (2018) and its sequel The Christmas Chronicles 2 (2020).

<i>Puppet Master: The Littlest Reich</i> 2018 American film

Puppet Master: The Littlest Reich is a 2018 American horror comedy film directed by Sonny Laguna and Tommy Wiklund, and written by S. Craig Zahler. The film is the thirteenth entry in the Puppet Master franchise, and is the first film produced by Fangoria under their "Fangoria Presents" label, following their acquisition by Cinestate. It is a reboot of the series, and stars Thomas Lennon, Jenny Pellicer, Nelson Franklin, Barbara Crampton, and Udo Kier. It was released on August 17, 2018, by RLJE Films. As of February 2019, the film has grossed over $600,000 through video sales.

<i>Spell</i> (film) 2020 film by Mark Tonderai

Spell is a 2020 supernatural thriller film directed by Mark Tonderai and starring Omari Hardwick and Loretta Devine. It was released in the United States through digital by Paramount Pictures on October 30, 2020.

<i>Malignant</i> (2021 film) American supernatural horror film

Malignant is a 2021 American horror film directed by James Wan from a screenplay by Akela Cooper, based on a story by Wan, Ingrid Bisu, and Cooper. The film stars Annabelle Wallis as a woman who begins to have visions of people being murdered, only to realize the events are happening in real life. Maddie Hasson, George Young, Michole Briana White, and Jacqueline McKenzie also star.

Silent Night, Bloody Night 2: Revival is a 2014 holiday horror film, a sequel to the 1972 film Silent Night, Bloody Night. The film is a direct sequel and continues the story of the original 40 years later.

<i>The Blazing World</i> (film) 2021 film by Carlson Young

The Blazing World is a 2021 American fantasy horror-thriller film written and directed by Carlson Young and co-written by Pierce Brown. The film stars Udo Kier, Dermot Mulroney, Vinessa Shaw, Soko, John Karna, Young and Edith González in her final film role before her death in 2019. The film is loosely inspired by Margaret Cavendish's 1666 work of the same name. In 2018, Young wrote, directed and starred in the short film of the same name, prior to expanding the basis and ideas for the full-length film. It is the first in a planned trilogy of films entitled Saturn Returns.

<i>The Deep House</i> 2021 French film

The Deep House is a 2021 English-language French supernatural horror film written and directed by Julien Maury and Alexandre Bustillo. The film stars James Jagger and Camille Rowe. Blumhouse Television and Epix acquired the film for North American distribution.

Sadistic Intentions, originally known as Sadistic Intent, is a 2018 American horror romance film directed by Eric Pennycoff and starring Jeremy Gardner, Michael Patrick Nicholson and Taylor Zaudtke.

<i>The Angry Black Girl and Her Monster</i> 2023 black horror film

The Angry Black Girl and Her Monster is a 2023 American science-fiction black horror film written and directed by Bomani J. Story in his directorial debut. It stars Laya DeLeon Hayes, Denzel Whitaker, Chad Coleman, Reilly Brooke Stith, Keith Sean Holliday, Amani Summer, and Edem Atsu-Swanzy.

<i>The Sacrifice Game</i> 2023 horror film by Jenn Wexler

The Sacrifice Game is a 2023 American horror film directed by Jenn Wexler, who also co-wrote the film with Sean Redlitz. It stars Mena Massoud, Olivia Scott Welch, and Gus Kenworthy.

<i>Somewhere Quiet</i> 2023 film by Olivia West Lloyd

Somewhere Quiet is a 2023 American psychological thriller film written and directed by Olivia West Lloyd, in her directorial debut. It stars Jennifer Kim, Kentucker Audley, Micheál Neeson and Marin Ireland.

<i>Sting</i> (film) 2024 film by Kiah Roache-Turner

Sting is a 2024 horror film written and directed by Kiah Roache-Turner, and starring Ryan Corr, Alyla Browne, Penelope Mitchell, Robyn Nevin, Noni Hazelhurst, Silvia Colloca, Danny Kim, and Jermaine Fowler. The film follows a young girl who secretly raises a spider as her pet, which then transforms into a giant monster.

References

  1. ↑ Miska, Brad (April 8, 2019). "Giant Spider Movie 'Itsy Bitsy' Crawls to Shout! Studios". Bloody Disgusting . Retrieved July 6, 2019.
  2. ↑ Brian B. (April 8, 2019). "Itsy Bitsy Brings a Giant Spider Tale to Shout! Studios". MovieWeb . Retrieved July 6, 2019.
  3. ↑ Sprague, Mike (June 27, 2019). "Itsy Bitsy Trailer Will Creep Out Anyone with a Deathly Fear of Spiders". MovieWeb . Retrieved July 6, 2019.
  4. ↑ Miska, Brad (June 26, 2019). "Scared of Spiders? The 'Itsy Bitsy' Trailer Just Might Traumatize You [Exclusive]". Bloody Disgusting . Retrieved July 6, 2019.
  5. ↑ Millican, Josh (28 June 2019). "Trailer: Your Skin Will Crawl When ITSY BITSY Hits Select Theaters and VOD This August". Dread Central . Retrieved July 6, 2019.
  6. ↑ "Itsy Bitsy (2019)". Rotten Tomatoes . Fandango . Retrieved October 10, 2021.
  7. ↑ Roe, Matthew (2 September 2019). "Itsy Bitsy". FilmThreat.com. Matthew Roe. Retrieved 23 September 2019.
  8. ↑ "ITSY BITSY (2019) — CULTURE CRYPT". CultureCrypt.com. Culture Crypt. Retrieved 23 September 2019.
  9. ↑ Englebert, Veronique (4 September 2019). "Itsy Bitsy - Film Review - The Review Geek". TheReviewGeek.com. Veronique Englebert. Retrieved 23 September 2019.
  10. ↑ Navarro, Meagan (19 August 2019). "[Popcorn Frights Review] 'Itsy Bitsy' Creature Feature Keeps Arachnophobia Alive and Well - Bloody Disgusting". Bloody Disgusting.com. Meagan Navarro. Retrieved 23 September 2019.
  11. ↑ Murray, Noel (29 August 2019). "Review: John Travolta bombs in 'The Fanatic,' and more - Los Angeles Times". Los Angeles Times . Retrieved 23 September 2019.
This page is based on this Wikipedia article
Text is available under the CC BY-SA 4.0 license; additional terms may apply.
Images, videos and audio are available under their respective licenses.