Movie Review: Cobweb (2023)
Halloween Horror Marathon Movie #4
Once upon a time, I loved horror movies, but I felt no desire to watch them during the pandemic. This year, that love has returned with a vengeance, and I started by seeking out horror gems I’d missed - both classic and modern - while revisiting some old favorites.
Big thanks to Dan over at the Cobwebs YouTube channel for his excellent ranked lists of horror films by sub-genre. If you’re interested in this subject, be sure to check out his page and like/subscribe.
At the top of Dan’s “Top 10 Halloween Movies (You Might Not Have Heard Of)” list is the 2023 haunted house gem, “Cobweb.” This terrific, pacey flick had the misfortune of being released on the “Barbenheimer” weekend, so it was lost in the nuclear pink.
Not since the early days of Tim Burton has a movie been so drenched in Halloweenieness; jack-o-lanterns appear in nearly every shot, the backyard is a garden full of over-ripe pumpkins, kids wear creepy masks, black and white color schemes, and on and on. The house appears shabby, squashed, and small from the outside, but is towering, labyrinthine, and Kubrickian on the inside, revealing new secrets with every act. DP Philip Lozano takes the audience on a virtual tour of the house interior, camera floating through the claustrophobic hallways b/w almost-static shots making every room seem vast, too-still, and oppressive. Smoky beams of cold, misty light slashing at sharp angles through the relentless gloom.
The small cast is led by Woody Norman’s haunted, layered, and wonderfully intentional performance as 8-year-old Peter. His icy, imposing parents are portrayed by a manic Lizzie Caplan (Cloverfield, Mean Girls) and a menacing Antony Starr (The Boys). Cleopatra Coleman (Infinity Pool, Dopesick) rounds out the main cast beautifully, as the lone adult with any sort of compassion.
Set during the week before Halloween, Peter is a small, introverted kid - often bullied at school - who lives alone with his parents. The murder of a young neighborhood girl many years before plagues his parents, who forbid him from trick-or-treating. One night, he hears a tapping from inside his bedroom wall that responds when he taps back. Eventually, the tap becomes a voice… a voice that claims to know what happened to that young neighborhood girl… and that Peter’s parents are hiding more than one secret…
This is my favorite kind of horror; marinating in visual and sonic atmosphere, stylish, anchored with solid characters, bold performances, and imaginative effects. Full of suspense and genuinely chilling sequences, both my husband and I were blown away. Excellent music from Drum & Lace blends seamlessly with Phil Barrie’s meticulous sound design. Tastefully and artfully shot gore is minimal and well-done, and it’s got two satisfying and shocking twists.
If you’re looking for a new, accessible, fun, and properly scary new addition to your Halloween line-up, I can’t recommend this one highly enough.
Currently streaming on Hulu.