Movies
‘Tarantula’ (1955), and the Existential Politics of Big Bugs
Tarantula (1955) is a cult classic giant spider movie that embodies 1950s nuclear fears. With eerie effects and a chilling Arizona desert setting, it captures Cold War anxieties, making it a standout atomic age horror flick.
The 1950s were a decade defined by fears of nuclear war, outdated gender norms, and conservative values that overtook the general population, creating a country of ultra-patriotic bigots. Thank God this country isn’t like that anymore. Right? Jokes and politics only somewhat aside, the current, very real fear of nuclear warfare was, of course, ever more present in the 1950s. This is what created the “Atomic Age” of horror. Fear of nuclear radiation led to filmmakers producing a plethora of “giant” everything movies. Giant wasps (Monster from Green Hell), giant ants (Them), and even giant lizards (The Giant Gila Monster).
Tarantula (1955): The Ultimate Atomic Age Giant Spider Classic
In Japan, monster movies took a slightly different approach, with the original Godzilla being a slow-paced drama and existentially terrifying metaphor for Hiroshima. American versions of this were much cheesier, but still had a similar terror. And they absolutely ruled the silver screen. However, one mammoth bug from Universal Pictures towers above them all. Tarantula from 1955, from It Came from Outer Space director Jack Arnold, is one of the greatest giant spider movies of all time, and definitely a cult classic that has earned its spot as one of the finest atomic age monster flicks.
The story follows Dr. Matt Hastings (John Agar) and Scientist Stephanie Clayton (Mara Cordray) attempting to understand and help stop a gigantic, mutated Tarantula from wreaking havoc on a small Arizona town. The creature stems from genetic and nuclear testing, having escaped from a desolate desert lab.
Not only is it a creepy, enthralling, suspenseful, and charm-filled novelty of its time, but it also carries the weight of existential dread hiding under the surface of the era.
Why Tarantula Stands Out Among Atomic Age Monster Flicks
Spiders are eternal creatures of discomfort in horror. From realistic creepy crawlies like Arachnophobia (1990) to giants in kitschy flicks like Eight Legged Freaks (2002), all the way back to Arachnida the human spider in The Show (1927), these arachnids have been causing nightmares since the birth of cinema. Still, the idea of a giant tarantula flick, especially one from the 50s’, probably does not ring true as particularly scary.
Maybe cheesy? Campy? Even laughably bad? While yes, Tarantula is as much of a cheese-fest as it sounds, the spider is genuinely eerie. At the very least, it is one of the scariest of this era.
Firstly, the spider is not a cheap rubber prop, but an actual, edited in tarantula. Maybe still campy, but definitely creepier. The dated nature of the effects give the monster an eerie, ominous present, appearing almost like this foreboding dark shadow of death and destruction. The Arizona desert setting also lets the film seep into an almost surrealist, Lynchian quality. Seriously, it is genuinely one of the scarier entries from this period, truly standing the test of time.
The pure emptiness, overtaken by its overcast shadow of nightmarish dread, is genuinely chilling and helps it stand out amongst the rest of these types of movies. An artistic effort was made, which makes for sci-fi suspense that still adds up.
How 1950s Duck-and-Cover Drills Fueled Existential Horror
In 2025, kids in schools regularly practice bomb and school shooting drills, living in a modern state of fear. Times change, but mass fear is embedded in a country with so many skeletons in the closet. In the 1950s, kids from elementary school onward prepped for a nuclear apocalypse. Everyone is familiar with the morbidly funny Duck-And-Cover PSAs, and shows like Fallout continue to foster these atomic-aged aesthetics. Although they went about it with a sense of cheery Suburban optimism, it was an underlying existential horror to constantly be wary of nuclear apocalypse.
Post World War 2, with the H-Bomb developed and the Cold War with Soviet Russia rising, filmmakers began to process these fears with something more whimsical. This, of course, is where these atomic-age bugs come in.
Tarantula’s Giant Spider: A Metaphor for Cold War Nuclear Terror
Tarantula is one of many movies featuring giant insects. While not exposed to traditional nuclear radiation, this massive spider is the product of unexplored scientific testing involving radioactive isotopes, feeding into that fear.
Cheesy as they are, these movies illicit a greater metaphoric terror. The gargantuan nature of these insects symbolizes how small Americans felt. During the Cold War, there was only so much people could do to prepare for what would undoubtedly be the end of the World. Unlike the Godzilla film of Japan, the monsters were not battled with other beasts or allied monsters in these movies. It is many ant-sized humans up against one greater threat.
These were drive-in, blockbuster flicks, almost like MCU films of their days. Still, the horror is rooted in something more profound and human.
Tarantula is a clearcut symbol of nuclear terror, and the feeling of being small when faced up against an existential threat. And these films should be reflected on now more than ever. With the world in political turmoil, and fear of nuclear war ever present, processing these fears through the guise of a giant spider movie may be the perfect way to relieve tension in troubling times.
Netflix did not give me a lot to work with this month. I may have also zoomed through many of my favorite things on the platform these last few months. So, many of these are titles I have been meaning to check out, and I hope they are worth the wait. However, I cannot promise the carnage, chaos, and confusion I normally provide for this column. This means you’ll have to forgive me for having less razzle dazzle and a little more uncertainty while I list some stuff off the less beaten path. Gather around, and I’ll tell you what I am trying to get into this March!
Archive (2020)
In 20238, George Almore’s newest AI prototype is nearly complete. However, this humanesque machine is also hiding one of George’s secrets that must remain hidden. While I love some British sci-fi and believe we should watch as many of the 2020 movies that slid under our quarantined radar, I’m pulling up for another reason. I want to see Theo James in something that isn’t The Monkey. Literally. I didn’t enjoy that movie, and I seem to be the last person I know who was unfamiliar with James before that. So, I’m trying to rectify that and see what he can do in anything else. Hopefully, after catching this on Netflix, I will have a new movie that comes to mind when he is mentioned. Fingers crossed, friends!
Green Room (2016)
A punk rock band gets trapped in a venue where skinheads want to kill them. So many people have told me this movie is worth my time, but because it’s always too soon for violent racists in this decade, I keep putting it off. However, I am so curious to see what Patrick Stewart, Imogen Poots, Alia Shawkat, and the late Anton Yelchin are doing in this movie. Green Room is also one of the few A24 horror movies that I have not seen, which makes it even more intriguing. While I doubt 2026 will calm down enough for this not feel too real, I think it’s time for me to be brave and cross this movie off my list already. So, I might have to grab a drink, a weighted blanket, and remote so I can open Netflix.
M3GAN 2.0 (2025)
Two years after M3GAN’s murder spree, she is rebuilt by her creator to take down a military-grade weapon made from her stolen tech. Is this movie as good as the original written by Akela Cooper? Obviously not. No one can do what Cooper does and we shouldn’t hold people to that very high bar. Is this movie way too damn long? Also, yes. However, was there still a lot of fun to be had along the way? I thought so. While M3GAN 2.0 isn’t the sequel we wanted, I’m happy to rewatch it for free at home. We lose a lot of the threads I loved in the first one, but I’ll be damned if this isn’t the new Terminator and Terminator 2: Judgement Day anyway. In a perfect world, Akela Cooper will reopen the computer (after receiving a very large check from Blumhouse) and give us a third installment to bring our dancing diva back into the horror fold.
Life After Beth (2014)
A man discovers his dead girlfriend is back, and that might be for the worst. I never watched this horror comedy, but I’m sad and hoping Aubrey Plaza can change that. After all, if she can’t wake us up after a long winter, then who can? I also imagine Plaza as a zombie is kind of great. Along for the ride is Molly Shannon, so between the two of them, I expect some chuckles and guffaws. Maybe the powers that be at Netflix knew we could all use a laugh, and that’s why this is waiting for us on the other side of February. Or possibly they wanted to apologize for that last season of Stranger Things. Or maybe it’s just a wacky coincidence, and I’m looking for meaning where there is none. Either way, I have a date with this movie, and you might want to check it out too.
Teen Wolf (2011-2017)
Getting bitten by a werewolf turns life upside down for a high school student and his best friend. Hear me out! I doubt there is a world where I will watch all six seasons of this. Hell, I doubt I’ll even finish the first season. However, I skipped this MTV moment when it originally aired. Which is why I didn’t know who Dylan O’Brien was when Send Help was announced. So, I’m using this Netflix account to see where he started now that I have seen him in something. You can join me in this or mark your time as safe and watch something else. I don’t blame you either way, and I hope you’ll respect my privacy during this adventure.
That’s what I’m doing with my Netflix account this month. Here is hoping April gives us more scary movies because some of us deserve it. Most importantly, I deserve it.
Shudder is still that girl even in March. Our beloved streamer is adding classics like The Fog and Messiah of Evil. They are also adding a couple of films that are precious to my generation, like May. The app always has an eclectic lineup, but this month is an embarrassment of riches. At least if you are like me, and looking at a list of movies you have had on your watch list forever. That is why it took me a hot minute to figure out which five titles should be this month’s priority. However, I cracked the code and think I have something old, something new, and definitely at least a couple of things that will turn blue. Check out what I am trying to see on Shudder this month. Also, be sure to let me know if you are as geeked about these titles as I am.
The Best Movies to Stream on Shudder This Month
The Last Horror Film (1982)
A New York taxi driver stalks an actress during the Cannes Film Festival. I love 80s slashers and have been on a quest to watch them all. This one has eluded me for a couple of years, and I am so happy Shudder is finally letting me cross it off my list. I am not expecting this to break my top 1980s slashers. I’m not even counting on it to be one of the best movies about a stalked actress of that era. However, I’m excited to finally see it for myself with an adult beverage in hand.
You can watch The Last Horror Film on March 1st.
Fade to Black (1980)
A film fanatic begins murdering people who betray him while stalking his idol. I finally caught this on Shudder in the last couple of years and will be using its return as an excuse to rewatch it. Very few movies cater to the slasher kids and film nerds as well as this one. Fade to Black is the kind of psychological horror comedy that is the reason 1980s horror remains unmatched. The costumes, the obsession, and the kills are the most fun you can possibly have on a Shudder Saturday. Do yourself a favor and hit play immediately.
You can watch Fade to Black on March 9th.
Hostile Dimensions (2023)
Two filmmakers travel through alternate dimensions seeking out the truth about a missing graffiti artist. This found footage film has been on my list for years, and I am so grateful that Shudder is finally letting me see it. I have heard so many great things, and the FOMO was killing me. Hopefully, Hostile Dimensions lives up to the hype. Otherwise, I have to ask my nearest and dearest to explain themselves and then stop accepting recommendations from them. Will it scratch the found footage itch I have this month? There is only one way to find out, and that is why I will be sat the day this drops on the app.
You can watch Hostile Dimensions on March 9th.
1000 Women in Horror (2025)
Women have been an integral part of the genre since Mary Shelley started thinking about Frankenstein. However, we do not always get the credit and respect we deserve. Which is why I am thrilled 1000 Women in Horror is celebrating the badasses who revolutionized horror films. Not only is the documentary opening the libraries for us, but it’s also bringing current faves along for the ride. Akela Cooper, Toby Poser, and Jenn Wexler are just some of the names I know who are about to inspire so many women to get serious about making their movies. I cannot stress enough how happy I am that Shudder is adding this to its lineup.
You can watch 1000 Women in Horror on March 20th.
An American Werewolf in London (1981)
College friends backpacking through Britain are attacked by a werewolf. As a werewolf film enthusiast, I know they are not all made equally. That is one of the many reasons why this is easily one of the best werewolf movies the genre has. The transformation alone is worth the price of a Shudder subscription. So, it shouldn’t come as a shock that this is one of the five titles I’m most excited to see this month. Hell, it’s probably in everyone’s top five to be completely honest. I cannot think of a better way to close this month out than with a top-tier werewolf flick.
You can watch An American Werewolf in London on March 31st.
I told you, Shudder is that girl. Whether you’re on spring break, taking a mental health day, or just dissociating, this app has got you covered. Make sure you dig into some of this sick, twisted, and cool cinema. As for me, I will see you next month with more recommendations.
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