History Film / EightLeggedFreaks

** Interestingly, that line didn't start out as a TitleDrop; the title of the movie was originally ''Arach-Attack'' according to the commentary. Unfortunately, the title has UnfortunateImplications when said out loud (the movie came out not long after the war between America and ''Iraq'' started), [[InvertedTrope so the title was changed at the last minute to reflect the line]]--which was, incidentally, ''ad-libbed'' on-set by David Arquette.

* TyopOnTheCover: Of the most technical variant. Since the movie's title has no hyphen between "eight" and "legged", its name technically means "eight freaks, each of which possess legs".

* TakeThat: Creator/RogerEbert's [[https://www.rogerebert.com/reviews/eight-legged-freaks-2002 review]] opened by saying that this film delivered everything that ''[[Film/MenInBlack Men In Black II]]'' did not. And see the AffectionateParody entry for the other [[Film/SpiderMan1 2002 blockbuster]] this film's taglines took aim at.

* TakeThat: Creator/RogerEbert's [[https://www.rogerebert.com/reviews/eight-legged-freaks-2002 review]] opened by saying that this film delivered everything that ''[[Film/MenInBlack Men In Black II]]'' did not. And see the AffectionateParody entry for the other [[Film/{{Spiderman}} 2002 blockbuster]] this film's taglines took aim at.

* DeathGlare: Combined with KubrickStare. [[UpToEleven Delivered with four big black-golden eyes at once!]] A visibly pissed-off jumping spider levels it at some escaping dirt bikers during the chase scene outside of town early on.

** There is a scene where a spider jumps on a moose's head, mounted on a wall, and takes a bite, only to visibly complain about the taste and spit out the stuffing.

* AntlionMonster: One subset of the GiantSpider horde includes a small group of Trapdoor Spiders, who quickly begin snatching away people into their burrows when the whole town is under attack. One guy manages to get past them by throwing a ladder on top of the hole in front of him and walking his way across.

** While the survivors are escaping in the mine tunnels, at one point a man tosses his ''loaded crossbow'' at the sheriff so she can shoot a giant spider, while they are a tight group in an enclosed space. It's unclear why he has to take the risk of tossing the crossbow in the first place rather that making the shot himself beyond TheMainCharactersDoEverything; she might have a clearer shot from her spot, but it's not evident at all.

* ImpactSilhoutte: The entire fight between Deputy Willis's cat and a spider of about the same size consists of this, with Willis and his wife watching from the outside as the two duke it out inside an air vent and slam one another against the wall.

* ImpactOutline: The entire fight between Deputy Willis's cat and a spider of about the same size consists of this, with Willis and his wife watching from the outside as the two duke it out inside an air vent and slam one another against the wall.

* ThatPoorCat: We are treated to a cat getting into a fight with a spider of equal size. Most of it takes place in an air vent where we see the cat slammed against the wall multiple times. Though, in fairness, so does the spider.

* TakeThat: Creator/RogerEbert's [[https://www.rogerebert.com/reviews/eight-legged-freaks-2002 review]] opened by saying that this film delivered everything that ''[[Film/MenInBlack Men In Black II]]'' did not.

* ActorAllusion:
** Creator/KariWuhrer not getting along with a character [[Series/{{Sliders}} named Wade]].
** Creator/ScarlettJohansson being in a movie concerning [[Franchise/MarvelCinematicUniverse black]] [[Film/BlackWidow2021 widows]] and [[Franchise/SpiderMan other]] [[Film/CaptainAmericaCivilWar big-spiders]].

** Creator/ScarlettJohansson being in a movie containing [[Franchise/MarvelCinematicUniverse black]] [[Film/BlackWidow2021 widows]] and [[Franchise/SpiderMan other]] [[Film/CaptainAmericaCivilWar big-spiders]].

* ActorAllusion: Creator/KariWuhrer not getting along with a character [[Series/{{Sliders}} named Wade]].

The plot concerns a collection of spiders that are exposed to toxic waste, causing them to grow to gigantic proportions. It's set in [[Film/{{Them}} an Arizona nowhere town called "Prosperity"]] - which [[Film/DawnOfTheDead1978 just happens to have a mall, just so survivors can battle spiders with improvised weapons]]. There are mine shafts for that SurvivalHorror feel. There's even a [[ExtremeSportExcusePlot scene where jumping spiders chase dirt bikers]]. Get some popcorn and watch spiders gobble bystanders and get squished by the heroes! NarmCharm!

* YouHaveToBelieveMe: Mike learns about the giant spiders far earlier but lampshades this trope due to being a kid. Chris is the first to believe him after finding a spider's skin in a very large hole, but Sam still remains skeptic until one spider attacks Ashley.

* DamnselInDistress: Gladys gets captured by a male orb weaver spider, and Chris wants to rescue her if there's any chance of her still being alive.

* TemptingFate: After his cat got eaten, his wife left him, and his boss just crashed his after-work hours and instructed him to bring her every single gun the department has available, Deputy Williams just can't resist quipping that this situation couldn't possibly get any worse. The movie's grand finale commences shortly afterwards, naturally.

* ThatPoorCat: We are treated to a cat getting into a fight with a spider of equal size. Most of it takes place in an air vent where we see the cat slammed against the wall multiple times.

* TakeThat: Creator/RogerEbert's [[http://rogerebert.suntimes.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20020717/REVIEWS/207170301/1023 review]] opened by saying that this film delivered everything that ''[[Film/MenInBlack Men In Black II]]'' did not.

''Eight Legged Freaks'' is a 2002 horror-comedy film directed by Ellory Elkayem, executive produced by [[Film/{{Stargate}} Roland]] [[Film/IndependenceDay Emmerich]], and starring Creator/DavidArquette, Creator/KariWuhrer, Creator/ScarlettJohansson, Doug E. Doug, Creator/RickOverton, and Creator/LeonRippy.

''Eight Legged Freaks'' is a 2002 horror-comedy film directed by Ellory Elkayem, executive produced by [[Film/{{Stargate}} Roland]] [[Film/IndependenceDay Emmerich]], and starring Creator/DavidArquette, Creator/KariWuhrer, Creator/ScarlettJohansson and Doug E. Doug.

* JerkWithAHeartOfGold: Bret starts off as a [[AllMenArePerverts sex-obsessed]] JerkAss, but ends up as a much nicer guy and even gets back together with his girlfriend. He plays SupportPartyMember to the Hero. Perhaps the taser [[GroinAttack to the balls]] acted as electroshock therapy.

* AffectionateParody: The film is one of old 50s mutant monster movies. It's not hard to notice that it doesn't take itself seriously.

** There is a scene where a spider jumps on a moose's head, mounted on a wall, and takes a bite, only to visibly complain about the taste.

* BadassBiker: Bret shows some good motorcycle skills when he escapes from jumping spiders.

* BookEnds: Harland's broadcast.

* ChekhovsGun: Bret's dirtbike.

* ConspiracyTheorist: Harlan, who believes the [[GiantSpider Giant Spiders]] are the alien invaders he has warned about his whole career. Amusingly, the county's ''entire emergency service force'' is apparently an avid fan of his show, so they fall under this category as well.

* DirtyCoward: Mayor Wade's approach to supporting his fellow citizens in defending the mall from the spider army? Sneak away to hide in the mines below the town and lock the door behind him.

* DyingMomentOfAwesome: Strangely, [[spoiler: Zeke the cat]]. His fight with a spider ''as big as he is'' just about destroys the drywall they're behind, and it's quite possible that he took the spider with him as the final seconds of their fight is shown to be shorting out the light they're above.

* ImprovisedZipline: And another one for Chris -- he uses his jacket and a radio tower's anchoring cable to make a smooth escape from a bunch of persuing spiders climbing up behind him. One of them attempts to follow him the same way. HilarityEnsues.

* LetsGetDangerous: Subverted. As the townsfolk arm themselves in the mall, it looks like there's going to be a massive battle with the spiders. Then when the spiders break in, the vast majority are too scared to do anything and simply retreat en mass.

* MayorPain: Wade has shades of both archetypes but leans more towards the evil side, what with his selling out the town to some shifty toxic waste disposal company without telling his citizens squat, and all of his previous plans that cost a lot of money and led nowhere.

* SeldomSeenSpecies: Besides the commonly seen tarantulas and orb-weavers, the movie features trapdoor spiders, spitting spiders and jumping spiders.

* StacysMom: Bret's friends make a bunch of lewd jokes about Sheriff Samantha Parker (who is also his girlfriend's Ashley's mother) behind her back after she pulls them over and fines them for speeding.

** Despite having a lair full of cocooned meals, the female spider at the end feels the need to chase down Chris and Gladys, who are on a MOTORCYCLE.

** It still retained this title (or the alternate spelling ''Arac Attack'') in other countries.
*** Which itself gets titled dropped a couple of times throughout the movie.

* ThisLoserIsYou: David Arquette plays Chris [=McCormick=], a well-meaning, sensitive schmuck just trying to save what's left of his hometown and pour his heart out to his high school crush. Actually a rather respectful application of the trope; he listens carefully to the ChildProdigy, and though he's skeptical at first[[note]]understandably - the four-inch-long mouth part of a four-foot-long spider looks a hell of a lot like an old piece of cactus[[/note]], when he finds the sharp four-foot-long ''leg'' of a '''twelve-foot-long''' spider he immediately realizes, "This ain't no cactus!" and runs right to him. He never fails to fight hard for the town. Result? ''KarmicJackpot.'' The girl, after one too many CanNotSpitItOut moments, exasperatingly admits that yes, she knows he beat up her philandering husband for her, came back to town because he genuinely wants to help, that he loves her, and that she loves him back. ''And then he finds the Mother Lode and makes the entire town filthy stinking rich!'' ''(Too bad a large majority of townspeople have become spider food by that point...)''
* ToxicWasteCanDoAnything: Spiders consume toxic waste. Spiders get taste for human and ability to grow far beyond their maximum size. The very end of the movie shows that the stuff also makes Deputy William's bald patch grow some new hair. The film gets a little slack as it has a strong comedic bent and doesn't take itself too seriously.

* ImprobableWeaponUser: Chris again. When a spider climbs into Ashley's room and begins to cover her in webbing, he tries to fend it off with a wooden chair. The chair looses, but points for trying.