Directed by Ellory Elkayem

Story by Ellory Elkayem and Randy Kornfield
Screenplay by Jesse Alexander and Ellory Elkayem

David Arquette .... Chris McCormack
Kari Wuhrer .... Sheriff Sam Parker
Scott Terra .... Mike Parker
Scarlett Johansson .... Ashley Parker
Doug E. Doug .... Harlan
Rick Overton .... Deputy Pete
Leon Rippy .... Wade
Matt Czuchry .... Bret
Jay Arlen Jones .... Leon
Eileen Ryan .... Gladys
Riley Smith .... Randy
Matt Holwick .... Larry
Jane Edith Wilson .... Emma
Jack Moore .... Amos the truck driver
Roy Gaintner .... Floyd
Don Champlin .... Leroy
John Christopher Storey .... Mark
David Earl Waterman .... Norman
Randi J. Klein .... Waitress
Terey Summers .... Waitress
John Ennis (I) .... Cop
Ryan C. Benson .... Cop
Bruiser .... Himself

Produced by
Bruce Berman .... executive producer
Dean Devlin .... producer
Roland Emmerich .... producer
William Fay .... executive producer
Peter Winther .... executive producer

Original music by John Ottman and Rich Ragsdale (additional cues)

Cinematography by John S. Bartley

Film Editing by David Siegel

MPAA: Rated PG-13 for sci-fi violence, brief sexuality and language.
Runtime: 99
For rating reasons, go to FILMRATINGS.COM, and MPAA.ORG.
Parents, please refer to PARENTALGUIDE.ORG

What do you get when you cross toxic waste with a bunch of exotic spiders? Eaten. As every fan of classic spine-tinglers knows, given the opportunity and the right chemical enhancement, arachnids will grow to humongous size and wreak havoc upon humanity. In "Eight Legged Freaks" the residents of a rural mining town discover that an unfortunate chemical spill has caused hundreds of little spiders to mutate overnight to the size of SUVs. And they're hungry.

When the alarm is sounded, it is up to mining engineer Chris McCormack (Arquette) and Sheriff Sam Parker (Wuhrer) to mobilize an eclectic group of townspeople, including the Sheriff's young son, Mike (Terra), her daughter, Ashley (Johansson) and paranoid radio announcer Harlan (Doug), into battle against the bloodthirsty eight-legged beasts.

In Eight Legged Freaks, an attack of the spiders originates in underground mining caves. And the victory comes as the community bands together to address the situation. And like the Somerset, PA, Quecreek mining accident which occurred at the same time this film was released, the film takes place in a small mining community. And the victory was won in a similar manner with the community coming together. The difference being that in the film no one prays for divine help.

The film places emphasis on human capability. The actual event in Somerset placed emphasis on divine intervention.

The Quecreek mining accident is now being called ?a miner miracle.? And indeed the news story reads like a movie script that was deliberately loaded with biblical connections.

Consider this:

The nine miners trapped three days underground were resurrected on the first day of the week -Sunday. Similarly, Jesus was in the tomb for three days and rose again on Sunday morning.

Restaurant signs in downtown Somerset before the miners were rescued read, "Pray." The signs after the rescue read, "God answers prayer."

Families of the miners agonized together during those long hours wondering if their loved ones would be saved alive. They prayed and shared encouraging passages from the Bible. The first words that were heard from family members when they received word that the miners were safe were, "Praise the Lord."

The state governor called the rescue “a miracle.”

I hope to see a movie sometime that openly places such emphasis on the intervention of God.

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