Holy Spider is compelling from beginning to end. This thriller, inspired by real events, of Saeed Hanaei who was responsible for killing 16 women between 2000 and 2001, is calculative in what it shares from reality and what it chooses to omit. In the film, we follow a journalist, Rashimi, (played by Zar Amir Ebrahimi ) who becomes invested in finding the man responsible for killing many female sex workers in the area. As the murders continue to be unsolved, Rashimi uses everything at her disposal to solve the crime and bring him down.
Holy Spider is a chilling portrait of real-life events, with an incredible performance by Zar Amir Ebrahimi at the center. We are shown some terrifying violent scenes, all while following our protagonist’s throes with the misogyny and fear that fill the city. It also shows the corrupt nature of many police forces who don’t seem to be giving enough attention to the case.
Even as the audience sees the crimes being committed and the disturbing motive of Saeed (Mehdi Bajestani) there’s still a pulsing sense of mystery and terror. At times the film has scenes that don’t feel as cohesive as others, utilizing some tropes we have seen before. But, what really ensures this film resonates is the performances and the truth at its core: Reality can be terrifying.
Writer/director Ali Abbasi hurls us into an atmospheric cat and mouse that will have your hair standing up as we see the two sides. The screenplay takes its liberties with the truth, but never feels exploitative. Instead, Holy Spider delivers an expertly acted and written, fast-paced thriller that cites some real horrors that many may have not known of before. The cinematography by Nadim Carlsen and the music by Martin Dirkov are also exceptional, keeping our collective pulse at a steady beat.
The film also shows what happens after his arrest, and the unsettling reactions of the public and his family are just as disturbing. At times enraging, but never short of riveting, Holy Spider shows Ali Abbasi has a real eye and instinct for storytelling, and with the fantastic performance by Zar Amir Ebrahimi, he makes a film that won’t soon leave your thoughts.
I was able to talk, at Toronto International Film Festival, with star Zar Amir Ebrahimi about how she got involved with the project, the risks, and finding her character, and writer/director Ali Abbasi about what drove him to make the picture, and the cost of bringing it to light.
Have a listen to audio below:
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Film Inquiry would like to thank Zar Amir Ebrahimi and Ali Abbasi for speaking with us!
Holy Spider will be released in theaters on October 28th in the United States.
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