Web of the Spider

1971

1h 42m

IMDb RATING

5.6/10

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26 Images

Horror

Alan Foster, a professional American journalist, travels to London to meet with Edgar Allan Poe for an interview. While in London, Alan soon finds himself in the company of Lord Blackwood, and Alan accepts a bet to spend a night in his castle

Directors

Antonio Margheriti

Writers

Bruno Corbucci(screenplay by)

Giovanni Grimaldi(screenplay by)

Bruno Corbucci(story by)

Stars

Anthony Franciosa

Michèle Mercier

Klaus Kinski

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Videos1

Trailer
Watch Trailer: Dracula in the Castle of Horror (1971)

Photos26

Top cast

Alan Foster

Elisabeth Blackwood

Edgar Allan Poe

Dr. Carmus

William Perkins

Julia

Elsie Perkins

Herbert

Lord Thomas Blackwood

Maurice

Directors

Writers

Bruno Corbucci(screenplay by)

Giovanni Grimaldi(screenplay by)

Bruno Corbucci(story by)

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Review

Featured review

7/10

**_A macabre dance at Blackwood Castle in England on All Hallows' Eve_** In the late 1840s, an American writer (Anthony Franciosa) meets Edgar Allan Poe (Klaus Kinski) on his visit to London and questions the authenticity of his tales. He is thus challenged to spend the night in Blackwood castle, which is reportedly haunted and no one has yet fulfilled the bet and come back alive. “Web of the Spider” (1971) was called “In the Spider’s Tight Grip” in Italian (translated) and is a remake of the director’s 1964 B&W film “Castle of Blood,” aka “Dance Macabre.” It was erroneously advertised as based on Poe’s “Night of the Living Dead,” but no such story exists (although he has a poem called “Spirits of the Dead”). Scriptwriters Bruno Corbucci (Sergio’s brother) and Giovanni Grimaldi drew from Poe's literary traditions rather than from a particular text. Franciosa is seriously reminiscent of William Shatner in this particular production, although he was actually older by 2.5 years, not to mention four inches taller. On the feminine side of things, redhead Michèle Mercier is stunning. She was 32 during shooting in March, 1971, but looked older (her character was only 26, but I guess it works out since she’s actually dead). Brunette Irina Maleeva is also lovely while Karin Field is worth a mention, but the latter’s character, Julia, is a turn-off. I prefer this to “Castle of Blood” simply because it’s in color, not to mention the presence of Michèle Mercier and Irina Maleeva. I also favor Franciosa as the protagonist. There’s an exquisiteness to the proceedings, particularly the pre-Victorian Age costumes and dance sequences, mixed with the creepy ghostly element and the castle setting. I also valued the insights on spectral happenings. I saw the English version, which runs about 90-93 minutes and is better than the 85-minute German rendition, but I’d love to see one of the fuller Italian versions, which run like 15-18 minutes longer. Needless to say, we’re being shortchanged by the butchered English print! It was shot at Castello Massimo, which is 37 miles northeast of Rome, and at Dino De Laurentiis’ Italian studio. GRADE: B

Wuchak15 Jun, 2025