Based on true events: in the Iranian city of Mashhad, Saeed Mazimi (Mehdi Bajastani) leads a double life. On the one hand, he is a construction worker and dedicated to his family including his wife and three young children living at home. On the other hand, he is a serial killer whose targets are local, drug-addicted prostitutes.
The fictional element of the film involves the character of Arezoo Rahimi (Zar Amir Ebrahimi), an exceptional journalist based in Tehran who travels to Mashhad to cover the murders - even willing to risk her life while doing so. Director / co-writer Ali Abbasi chose to add this character as her many difficulties reflect the misogyny that is rampant in Iran where Abbasi was born.
The story of this film is so bizarre and shocking that it had to be based on truth. Had it been fiction, it might be derided as being too far-fetched. It is also different from most other crime films in that the murderer is know from the beginning. However, this known fact does not stop "Holy Spider" from being a thriller with its many twists including a thrilling climax followed by a surprising ending.
One of the many shocks is the responses of people in the community regarding the mass murders. Many shocking incidents regarding police corruption are also on display some which were real and some which were fictional regarding the terrible ways the Rahimi character was treated and taken for granted.
While "Holy Spider" involved Iranian-born creative people, it had to be filmed in Jordan. The Iranian government has strongly condemned the film. While this is a good enough reason to see the film, thankfully it is not the only one.
"Holy Spider" is a European co-production. - dbamateurcritic.
The fictional element of the film involves the character of Arezoo Rahimi (Zar Amir Ebrahimi), an exceptional journalist based in Tehran who travels to Mashhad to cover the murders - even willing to risk her life while doing so. Director / co-writer Ali Abbasi chose to add this character as her many difficulties reflect the misogyny that is rampant in Iran where Abbasi was born.
The story of this film is so bizarre and shocking that it had to be based on truth. Had it been fiction, it might be derided as being too far-fetched. It is also different from most other crime films in that the murderer is know from the beginning. However, this known fact does not stop "Holy Spider" from being a thriller with its many twists including a thrilling climax followed by a surprising ending.
One of the many shocks is the responses of people in the community regarding the mass murders. Many shocking incidents regarding police corruption are also on display some which were real and some which were fictional regarding the terrible ways the Rahimi character was treated and taken for granted.
While "Holy Spider" involved Iranian-born creative people, it had to be filmed in Jordan. The Iranian government has strongly condemned the film. While this is a good enough reason to see the film, thankfully it is not the only one.
"Holy Spider" is a European co-production. - dbamateurcritic.