The Craziest ’80s Horror Movie You’ve Never Seen Is Finally Going To Be Watchable
In the late 1980s, award-winning Italian filmmaker Gianfranco Giagni released a gory horror film called The Spider Labyrinth and no one has been able to watch it since. That is until now. Now, horror fans all over the world can access the worldwide Ultra High Definition premier of Giagni’s classic on Severin Films.
The Spider Labyrinth unfolds when an American professor embarks on a mysterious research project in Budapest, only to find himself entangled in a surreal web of sexual provocation, occult carnage, and arachnidian havoc.
The Spider Labyrinth is already available in its 3-disc collection glory on Severin’s website. For over 30 years, director Gianfranco Giagni’s debut and sole venture into the horror genre has been a rare gem for enthusiasts, with limited availability in the home video market.
The Spider Labyrinth unfolds when an American professor embarks on a mysterious research project in Budapest, only to find himself entangled in a surreal web of sexual provocation, occult carnage, and arachnidian havoc. Starring Roland Wybenga, William Berger, and Stéphane Audran, the film has been hailed as an “invaluable contribution to ’80s Italian Horror.”
The new release features a 4K UHD presentation of the film along with over 4 hours of special features, promising an immersive experience for both longtime fans and newcomers. The restoration process to bring The Spider Labyrinth from its original 1988 quality to 4K resolution involved scanning the film in 4K from the original vault negative at Cinecittà, bringing out the best in Giagni’s directorial prowess.
Special Features on the discs include a commentary track with Dr. Will Dodson, Professor of Rhetoric and Media Studies, and Ryan Verrill, Host of the Disc Connected. Additionally, interviews with key figures involved in the film, such as director Gianfranco Giagni, screenwriter Gianfranco Manfredi, cinematographer Nino Celeste, actress Paola Rinaldi, and special effects artist Sergio Stivaletti, offer an in-depth look into the making of The Spider Labyrinth.
Disc 3 of the collection features the remastered soundtrack on CD. Franco Piersanti’s outstanding score for The Spider Labyrinth has also been given new life, providing fans with an opportunity to immerse themselves in the film’s horrifying atmosphere.
With the worldwide UHD premiere of The Spider Labyrinth, fans and horror aficionados can now have the chance to experience this ’80s gem in all its remastered glory
Director Gianfranco Giagni’s journey to The Spider Labyrinth began with a background in radio and television during the mid-1970s. His foray into directing music videos and the creation of the music program Mister Fantasy paved the way for this ambitious project. The film’s producer, Tonino Cervi, recognized Giagni’s potential after seeing his short film Giallo e nero and offered him the opportunity to direct the horror film.
The Spider Labyrinth made its debut in Italy on August 25, 1988, distributed by Medusa/Penta Film. Despite the initial obscurity, retrospective reviews have praised the film’s engaging narrative and beautifully staged horror sequences. Scott Aaron Stine, in his book on horror films of the 1980s, likened it to the works of Dario Argento and Mario Bava, emphasizing its atmospheric quality.
With the worldwide UHD premiere of The Spider Labyrinth, fans and horror aficionados can now have the chance to experience this ’80s gem in all its remastered glory, complete with special features that peel back the layers of its creation. The film’s resurgence promises to introduce a new generation to the surreal and terrifying world of 80s horror as crafted by Gianfranco Giagni.
