Holy Spider (2022)

[MifuneFan]

I just finished watching Holy Spider (2022) via Netflix, and figured its upcoming Blu-ray release deserved a little more attention. The film is based on the true story of a righteous serial killer in Iran, responsible for over a dozen murders, and an outspoken female journalist on his trail. I thought the film was great. It follows similar paths of other serial killer films, particularly the Japanese film Vengeance is Mine (1979), and Zodiac (both also being based on real-life people). It's also unique for its Iran setting, and the socio-political aspects that go along with that.

The film is shot really nicely too. With a lot of it taking place at night, in deserted streets, and alleys. you definitely get a great sense of the seedy and dark world being captured. It can be a disturbing film at times, and there are some parts at the end that may anger you, but overall, I recommend checking this one out if you have interest in films like this.

Holy Spider Blu-ray

Bonus Materials

• Q&A with Ali Abbasi, moderated by Ana Lily Amirpour
• Q&A with moderator Reza Safai at Laemmle Town Center
• Q&A at IFC Center with Ali Abbasi
• Interview with Director Ali Abbasi
• Interview with Producer Jacob Jarek
• Interview with Actor Mehdi Bajestani
• Interview with Producer Sol Bondy
• Interview with Actor Zar Amir-Ebrahimi
• In Persian with English Subtitles

Holy Spider | Official Trailer | Utopia - YouTube

Female journalist Arezoo Rahimi (Zar Amir-Ebrahimi, White Paradise) travels to the Iranian holy city of Mashhad to investigate a serial killer targeting sex workers. As she draws closer to exposing his crimes, the opportunity for justice grows harder to attain when the murderer is embraced by many as a hero. Based on the true story of the 'Spider Killer' Saeed Hanaei (Mehdi Bajestani, 'Whisper"), who saw himself as on a mission from God as he killed 16 women between 2000 and 2001.

Nominated for the Palme d'Or at the 2022 Cannes Film Festival (and winner at Cannes for Best Actress, Zar Amir-Ebrahimi), "Holy Spider" was selected as the Danish entry for Best International Feature Film at the 95th Academy Awards (and made the December shortlist) in this "riveting, true-crime serial killer thriller." (Tom Meek, Cambridge Day)

[HorrorBlu]

I watched it on NetFlix too, and even though it was an engaging watch, it's not the type of movie I'd want to own or see again.

Glad there is physical media for those who want it though.

[kishiro]

Damn... Subtitles are English SDH only... Get the UK Mubi release instead.

[James Luckard]

Originally Posted by kishiro

Damn... Subtitles are English SDH only... Get the UK Mubi release instead.

Wow, really? I'd been wanting to see this, but no conventional English subtitles would be a dealbreaker for me on this disc.

The product listing at Amazon says IN PERSIAN WITH ENGLISH SUBTITLES, does it really only have only English SDH subs, describing onscreen sounds and music cues and such?

[kishiro]

Originally Posted by James Luckard

Wow, really? I'd been wanting to see this, but no conventional English subtitles would be a dealbreaker for me on this disc.

The product listing at Amazon says IN PERSIAN WITH ENGLISH SUBTITLES, does it really only have only English SDH subs, describing onscreen sounds and music cues and such?

Unfortunately James, the answer is yes. The disc has a single subtitle-track, and that track describes "[knock at door]" etc. it's SDH allright. I'm sad to say.

[James Luckard]

Originally Posted by kishiro

Unfortunately James, the answer is yes. The disc has a single subtitle-track, and that track describes "[knock at door]" etc. it's SDH allright. I'm sad to say.

That's appalling!!! I was considering buying the disc, since it's only $17.99, but that's a definite pass for me.

Thanks SO MUCH for posting that information. Sounds like the distributor tried to cheap out by only including one English subs track, thinking nobody would care.

I'll track down a foreign disc. Do you own the UK Mubi disc? Can you confirm it has conventional subtitles?

I fully respect the vital need for SDH tracks, but I can't watch them, the subtitles for sounds and score cues are far too distracting to me. All discs should have both normal subs and SDH subs.

[kishiro]

Originally Posted by James Luckard

(...) I'll track down a foreign disc. Do you own the UK Mubi disc? Can you confirm it has conventional subtitles?

Yes I own the Mubi disc. It has three subtitle tracks. 1.) Proper English subtitles, 2.) Spanish, 3.) English SDH.

Originally Posted by James Luckard

(...) I fully respect the vital need for SDH tracks, but I can't watch them, the subtitles for sounds and score cues are far too distracting to me. All discs should have both normal subs and SDH subs.

1000% agree !

[HipsterTrash]

Subtitles were messed. Someone kept putting a 'n' in place of a space at moments.
They also went really fast that I didn't know who was saying what at times.

Still a great film.

[CelestialAgent]

Is the Q&A on the MUBI release the same Zoom piece as the US release? The runtimes are similar but not identical.

English SDH is not a dealbreaker for me.

[James Luckard]

FYI, the UK Mubi disc with the conventional subtitles is fully region locked and does not play with the Panasonic STOP-TOP MENU-TOP MENU trick. I had to play it on my cheap regionless backup machine.