Jack Hill (Original author) People sometimes ask me how I came up with the idea for what eventually became the film, Spider Baby.
As I recall, the basic story came to me pretty much all in a burst of inspiration -- a rather smoky burst of inspiration, most likely; it was the sixties, after all, and I was just out of college -- and I wrote the entire script in less than a week. The whole project was in my mind nothing more than an effort to create a low-budget horror film that would entertain the drive-in movie crowd for a summer or two and then disappear forever, like so many films of its genre. If I had any artistic pretensions at all, they were surely nothing more than the enjoyment of making the bizarre seem ordinary, and the ordinary, threatening.
Today, I'm as astonished as anyone that my little movie turned out to be a perennial classic of sorts, a certified "cult film," with generations of fans -- and critics -- watching it over and over again, constantly discovering new details and values that I myself was hardly aware of at the time.
But it wasn't until recently, when I learned that some of the most avid fans of the movie were young teen-age girls, that I realized the true appeal of Spider Baby to its fans: a portrayal of unconditional love.
As I recall, the basic story came to me pretty much all in a burst of inspiration -- a rather smoky burst of inspiration, most likely; it was the sixties, after all, and I was just out of college -- and I wrote the entire script in less than a week. The whole project was in my mind nothing more than an effort to create a low-budget horror film that would entertain the drive-in movie crowd for a summer or two and then disappear forever, like so many films of its genre. If I had any artistic pretensions at all, they were surely nothing more than the enjoyment of making the bizarre seem ordinary, and the ordinary, threatening.
Today, I'm as astonished as anyone that my little movie turned out to be a perennial classic of sorts, a certified "cult film," with generations of fans -- and critics -- watching it over and over again, constantly discovering new details and values that I myself was hardly aware of at the time.
But it wasn't until recently, when I learned that some of the most avid fans of the movie were young teen-age girls, that I realized the true appeal of Spider Baby to its fans: a portrayal of unconditional love.
Enrique Acosta (Producer, Composer) Had I known way back in the early days of the 21st century the time, money, and friends I'd sacrifice to this project I might never have picked up that horror magazine: The one in which fans of the original film waxed rhapsodic of Jack Hill's first movie. But I did and there is no turning back.
I, like so many before, fell in love with the strange tale of the Merryes. But my obsession went further. I really thought I was writing a concept album though much to my surprise it became a musical. But I could not do it alone. My musical ability was too limited. So with the help of some friends the vision was later realized and staged. But for some reason it was not enough. The strange obsession of mine had to be shared outside of my little world and we had to tour. Then I had to record new songs, re-record new arrangements of old songs and tour again...
For no other reason beyond your entertainment I have suffered and burned bridges and destroyed lives. And I still can not stop.
I, like so many before, fell in love with the strange tale of the Merryes. But my obsession went further. I really thought I was writing a concept album though much to my surprise it became a musical. But I could not do it alone. My musical ability was too limited. So with the help of some friends the vision was later realized and staged. But for some reason it was not enough. The strange obsession of mine had to be shared outside of my little world and we had to tour. Then I had to record new songs, re-record new arrangements of old songs and tour again...
For no other reason beyond your entertainment I have suffered and burned bridges and destroyed lives. And I still can not stop.