20. Holy Spider; movie review

 

HOLY SPIDER

Cert 18

118 mins

BBFC advice: Contains strong violence, sexual violence

I fear that Holy Spider will be submerged beneath the deluge of awards-challenging movies released this month.

However, those who search it out will be richly rewarded.

The movie is based on the story of a serial killer (Mehdi Bajestani) who stalked and murdered prostitutes in the holy Iranian city of Mashhad between 2000 and 2001.

It is told through the eyes of a fearless female journalist (Zar Amir-Ebrahimi) who soon finds that some are keener to pursue the murderer than others.

Indeed, a significant percentage of the public and even key establishment figures believe he is right to be 'cleaning up' the city.

Think about that for a minute. It would be akin to people supporting The Yorkshire Ripper when he was killing sex workers during the 1970s.

It is, therefore, shocking to see the reporter rebuffed by a detective (Sina Parvaneh) who gives the clear impression that there is little appetite to investigate the crimes.

Meanwhile, a fellow journalist (Arash Ashtiani) receives calls from the strangler telling him precisely where bodies are dumped.

Director Ali Abbasi also sees the murders through the prism of the victims and, most potently, the perpetrator and his family.

His devotion to his wife (Forouzan Jamshidnejad), children and religion certainly don't play to the stereotypical serial killer.

And his genuine belief that he is doing God's work adds a dimension which makes it different from almost all crime films.

Unfortunately, the journalist's role stretches credibility as the movie unwinds but, otherwise, this is a gripping thriller wrapped up in a culture clash.

I give a special shout-out to Bajestani whose portrayal of a murderer is original and strangely alluring.

Reasons to watch: Enthralling thriller

Reasons to avoid: Tough scenes

Laughs: None

Jumps:  One

Vomit: Yes

Nudity: Yes 

Overall rating: 9/10

Did you know? In Iran, prostitution is a crime, punishable by death, by hanging, but if the prostitute is married, by stoning. This legislation has been ruling since the 1979 Revolution and the establishment of the Islamic Republic of Iran and the Khomeini regime.

The final word.  Ali Abbasi: "In a normal world, there is no doubt that a man who had killed 16 people would be seen as guilty. But here it was different: a portion of the public and the conservative media began to celebrate Hanaei as a hero. They upheld the idea that Hanaei simply had to fulfil his religious duty to clean the streets of the city by killing these ‘dirty’ women. 

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