This piece was written during the 2023 WGA and SAG-AFTRA strikes. Without the labor of the writers and actors currently on strike, the work being covered here wouldn’t exist.
Cobweb is a twisty psychological thriller about a common childhood fear. Eight-year-old Peter (Woody Norman, C’mon C’mon) is plagued by a constant tapping from inside his bedroom walls. When he learns dark secrets about his parents, he loses trust in them. And if a kid cannot trust their mom and dad, who should they trust?
Things get off to a strange start. Director Samuel Bolton (Marianne) creates an oppressive atmosphere that initially feels out of place. For some reason, it all seems too gloomy. It is almost as if the story takes a while to catch up. The slow build works and as Cobweb reveals more, the tone adds another layer. Before long, it is clear there are some truly awful things going on.
Writer Chris Thomas Devlin (2022’s Texas Chainsaw Massacre) has crafted a compelling family drama. There is some great foreshadowing and the first big twist will catch most off-guard. It is a powerful moment that underscores that there are bigger scares than things that go bump in the night. The first two acts when the focus is on the family are definitely the strongest parts.
Cobweb starts to go off the tracks when it becomes a full on horror movie. The explanation behind the strange sounds is frightening enough, but it does not connect so well with the rest of the film. This is seen most in the rushed ending which tries to tie everything together. What should have been a real gut punch that leaves audiences talking, but ends up falling flat.
Cobweb releases exclusively in theaters July 21
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