‘Holy Spider Movie Review [Beyond Fest 2022]: Ali Abbasis Brutal Serial Killer Drama Explores Societal Exploitation
![‘Holy Spider Movie Review [Beyond Fest 2022]: Ali Abbasis Brutal Serial Killer Drama Explores Societal Exploitation](https://www.thewrap.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/07/GettyImages-1203588328.jpg "\"Holy Spider Film Review [Beyond Fest 2022]: Ali Abbasis' brutal serial killers explores society's exploitation")
Director Ali Abbasi made the Holy Spider a terrifying and frightening cultural landmark. He tries to avoid any political or religious statements, but the subject he chooses requires it. This serial killer drama explores the intriguing but raucous imagination of a culture that primarily celebrates the misogynistic murder of a prostitute. The Holy Spider is still interesting, but his perspective carries too much sympathy for a man and his twisted ideas that don't deserve anything.
Holy Spider is about a misogynistic assassin based on a true story
Based on the crimes committed by Spider Slayers in Iran from 2000 to 2001, the Holy Spider is set in the dark underbelly of Mashhad. Rahimi (Zar Amir-Ebrahimi) is a journalist who enters the city with the aim of investigating the brutal murder of prostitutes. He wonders why the police haven't found any evidence to track him down, but that's because they're not really looking for him.
Rahimi doesn't realize that Saeed (Mehdi Bajestani) is a family man when he's not looking for his next victim. He has a wife and children, but intends to separate the two halves of his life. However, Saeed didn't think he was doing anything wrong: he thought he was clearing the streets of sinners.
Writer/director Ali Abbasi looks at a company that has created a monster
The Holy Spider begins with the following text: "Everyone will find what he wants to avoid". The more literal meaning behind this quote applies to the Spider Slayer as a man trying to escape his sin and community to do something to find out his actions. Another way to look at this quote is to remove gender from the use of the word "male" and apply it to everyone, including the prostitutes who promote it. The initial perspective of the Abbasid character was that of a woman who was a victim of strangulation. Mashhad poses many dangers to prostitutes and this killer wants to serve every woman like her exactly what she wants to avoid: hatred, violence and death.
Misogyny emerges from every corner of the narrative. Traveling alone, Rahimi finds herself unable to enter a hotel room without a man with her until she introduces herself as a reporter. Even in a socially respected career, she cannot escape the cultural prejudices that also haunt prostitutes. Others define Rahimi by the people who exploit her, whether she is a former employer or a hypocritical spider killer who longs for his crimes to be in the news.
The Spider Slayer only pursues women he deems "corrupt" from his own moral and religious compass. However, he comes from a place of inadequacy as he tries to find meaning in his life. Despite having a family that depended on him, he continued on the path of martyrdom, further highlighting the corruption of power in Iran. Unfortunately, Spider-Slayer is not alone in ending his vicious belief that some people find life "worthless", "disgusting" and worth it.
Holy Spider is a frustrating but captivating drama
Abbasi shoots the Holy Spider in Jordan, but it's clear that Mashhad's ghost is his own character. The film goes to great lengths to bring the city to life, often using the sounds of the city and the thumping of cars passing by to create a natural discomfort. The streets are never safe when seen through a woman's eyes.
The identity of the Spider Killer is deliberately revealed beforehand, clearing Rahimi's investigation of the truth. Written by Abbasi and Afshin Kamran Bahrami, this true detective story emphasizes drama more than thrillers. It doesn't matter who the Saeeds are because where they come from is how culture has the power to create and support a serial killer. The most disturbing element is the ability to encourage other assassins to take their place.
Tragically, this gave Saeed the most dramatic moment. Rahimi is a goal that allows viewers to relate to this world in some way because she is not real. However, this robs the narrative of its power. The assassin has more character development while Rahimi's character sheet is barely visible. The Spider Killer's hatred of "corrupt" women and their vision of worthless objects may not be as much criticized as they should be. Abbasi offers a masculine view of prostitutes' lives and values without giving them any nuance.
He wanted the Spider-Slayer story to exist in a vacuum of cultural intrigue, but ignoring other factors that went into his story was a disservice. Amir-Ebrahimi puts on a phenomenal performance, but like a prostitute, her character is sidelined and only worth the goals the crowd needs. However, it is an experience guaranteed to provoke a reaction. Holy Spider is a heartbreaking crime drama that will have you clenching your fists in anger.
Holy Spider was Denmark's official voice for the 95th Academy Awards for Best International Film.
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