Directed by Ali Abbasi
Written by Ali Abbasi, Afshin Kamran Bahrami, Jonas Wagner
Starring: Zar Amir-Ebrahimi, Mehdi Bajestani, Arash Ashtiani, Forouzan Jamshidnejad
Unrated
Runtime: 116 minutes
Available to watch in theaters October 28

by Victoria Potenza, Staff Writer

Content Warning: Graphic sexual violence

Stories based on true crime events are endlessly fascinating to audiences, especially when they revolve around a serial killer. With recent releases like Dahmer – Monster: The Jeffrey Dahmer Story, it is clear that these stories are alive and well and viewers flock to them. All too often however, these stories cross over from curiosity about abnormal psychology into the realm of idolization. When you have dark tourism attractions in which people flock to famous spaces or attempt to commune with the dead killer, things may have gone a little too far. And too often there are stories that do not pay enough mind to the victims or even attempt to get permission from victims' families about the stories that they want to entertain their audiences with. This realm of media needs to be reevaluated  much more than it has and the standard true crime fan might need to do a little internal excavation to see how problematic and unethical many of these interpretations can be. However, the new release Holy Spider makes a true effort to tell a story that is centered on victims, institutional violence, and emphasizing how these killers should not be held in such high regard. 

Holy Spider is based on a true story about the Iranian serial killer Saeed Hanaei (Mehdi Bajestani) Between 2000-2001 this man killed 16 women, many of whom worked as sex workers, stating that it was his mission from God to clean the streets of sin. This movie spends much time with Saeed and his family but also emphasizes Rahimi (Zar Amir-Ebrahimi) a reporter who has come to the Iranian holy city of Mashhad to investigate the murders. While she is there, she faces consistent harassment and road blocks because she is a woman. As their two stories begin to intertwine we see the struggles of women in Iran coupled with the privilege of being a man. 

This is a timely film considering the protests currently going on in Iran around the oppressive government and their specific treatment of women in the country. Which makes this an even more important subject matter to be portrayed on the screen, especially for those who are less familiar with what the women in Iran are going through. While women struggle all over the world to validate their rights in varying degrees, seeing just what it is like to live as a woman in Iran is one of the most fascinating aspects of the film. Rahimi is an unmarried woman and because of this she struggles to even do things like book a hotel on her own and is forced to always wear her hijab. It also opens her up to sexual advances from any man who notices this unaccompanied woman going about her job. It also highlights why she is so serious about reporting on this story.

On the other hand, Saeed is able to go about a rapid killing spree because so few people, including the police, care about getting justice for his victims. He is even praised for the crimes he commits because sex workers, and women in general, are looked down upon so much that people do believe he is “cleaning up” the city by going about his violent crimes. While you hope that he will get caught and be held accountable for his heinous actions, it is clear that even if he is caught, someone else could easily take his place. This is his “holy mission” and it speaks to societal issues that ring true no matter where you live. Even if you hold this one person accountable, it does not do anything to fix the societal and institutional misogyny that allows a person like Saeed to feel justified in his actions. The films portrayal Saeed as a damaged man who is insecure about his place in the world and therefore finds meaning in these atrocities. 

Holy Spider also places emphasis on the victims. The film opens with and spends some time with a sex worker who has become addicted to drugs and also needs to provide for her small child. This forces her into increasingly unsafe situations and into Saeed’s web. We meet several of these women, all different, and forced into this life because of their circumstances. By showcasing the poverty and disdain for women that do not fit into their rigid social structure, it is easy to see who the real villain is in the movie. Even the use of the term “spider” draws the imagery of webs and how connected all of these issues and acts of violence are. Even with one spider gone, more can come and weave a new web for their victims. 

Zar Amir-Ebrahimi gives a moving performance as Rahimi, a woman who would never be held in the same regard or spotlight as someone like Saeed because she is a woman, and she speaks for women who no one seems to care about. Her own “holy war” is one in which few around her will understand but it is the one that is truly important in the story. We also see how much of herself she needs to hide because of the state of the government. She is always covered, always hidden, always shielded to protect herself from the men around her. It makes it impossible for her to find true connections because no one, not even other women, know how to connect with each other in such a world. She is tough throughout the film but we see how this work chips away at her. 

While the subject matter and performances are worth the price of admission, Holy Spider is also a marvel to look at. Ali Abbasi finds beauty in the dark underbelly of the holy city, emphasizing the colors of the city even at nighttime when the “Spider Killer” lurks. In many of the frames you can see men or motorbikes that look like they could be that of the serial killer, making you constantly on edge much like the women in the film. And just because these men might not be this killer, it doesn’t mean they aren't dangerous in their own right. 

Holy Spider is an entrancing film that draws you in from the moment it begins. It is also a movie that does not let you forget what it is about for one moment. Even if there are some resolutions it is a reminder that this one story is indicative of a societal problem. This leaves a heartbreaking and bitter taste in your mouth and makes it impossible to shake after watching. This is a timely, terrifying, and poignant film that deserves all the recognition it can get.