‘Terror has 8 legs’
Tarantulas: The Deadly Cargo is a 1977 made-for-TV movie about a horde of killer spiders that are accidentally transported from Ecuador to California.
The movie was directed by Stuart Hagmann from a screenplay co-written by John Groves and Guerdon Trueblood. It was produced by Paul Freeman and executive-produced by Alan Landsburg.
The Alan Landsburg Productions movie stars Claude Akins, Charles Frank, Deborah Winters, Bert Remsen, Sandy McPeak, Pat Hingle, Tom Atkins and Howard Hesseman.
The soundtrack score was composed by Mundell Lowe (Deadly Game; The Scarecrow; Billy Jack; Satan in High Heels).
Plot [contains spoilers]:
In Ecuador, two reckless American money-hungry pilots bribe officials to fly a load of coffee beans into the United States. To pay off the officials, they sneak aboard three passengers whom they agree to smuggle into the U.S.
Problems arise when sacks of beans containing deadly tarantulas are loaded into the cargo bay. During the flight, the venomous arachnids, irritated by the plane’s vibration and high altitude, escape from the sacks during a fierce thunderstorm. As the plane wobbles under the torrential rains, the sacks split open, spilling the beans and the noxious spiders. The three illegal immigrants are trapped in the cargo hold with the spiders. They vainly attempt to hold off the spiders. The lethal spiders eventually overcome all three.
Meanwhile, in the cockpit, the pilots work to overcome a developing mechanical problem that endangers the aircraft. They realise they must make an emergency landing as they pass over the orange-producing town of Finleyville, California. Unbeknownst to the pilots, the arachnids have escaped and begin to swarm the cockpit, attacking the pilots. The plane crash-lands near Finleyville.
The city’s emergency response system moves to aid the downed aircraft and pilots. A fire breaks out at the crash site and the deadly tarantulas scurry from the location toward a nearby orange grove. The fire is brought under control and the pilots and passengers are pulled from the airplane. Those not killed begin to exhibit strange symptoms. The town’s physician, Doctor Hodgins (Pat Hingle), is baffled until a local citizen who has been bitten, suddenly drops to the ground.
Cindy Beck (Deborah Winters) and her fiancé (Charles Frank) aid with the investigation. Her brother Matthew (Matthew Laborteaux) finds a spider, but no one listens to him.
A family of aviators, the Beck family, attempts to solve the puzzle of why the plane crashed. They are told that the tarantulas are banana spiders, described as “the most aggressive and venomous spider in the world”. In the meantime, the tarantulas continue their attacks, and more people are brought into Doctor Hodgins’ clinic. The doctor finally figures it out, but by this time, the spiders have spread out. The city’s mayor is fearful that any news of the problem infesting the city’s oranges will bring the township financial ruin.
Bert Springer (Claude Akins), one of the city’s responsible citizens, helps the Beck family investigate. Cindy’s brother is bitten and incapacitated by the spider and dies. Bert organises the town citizens, and they risk their lives trying to save the town as the food-seeking spiders converge on the orange packaging plant.
The plan to eliminate the spiders involves exposing the deadly arachnids to the buzzing sounds of their enemy: wasps. Using an amplified sound of wasps buzzing, the tarantulas are rendered motionless. This allows a crew of townsfolk to collect the spiders in buckets full of alcohol, which kills them. During the process, the electrical system switches off, and the crew are suddenly surrounded by the deadly spiders when the doors, which are electrically controlled, slam shut. A local teacher crawls in through a window near the roof and leads them to safety. When the power comes back on, the crew returns to care for the remainder of the spiders.
Blu-ray release:
Tarantulas: The Deadly Cargo was released on Blu-ray in North America by KL Classics on July 5, 2022. Special Features:
Brand New 2K Master
New Audio Commentary by The Made for TV Mayhem Show Podcast Hosts Amanda Reyes, Dan Budnik and Nate Johnson
Newly Commissioned Art by Vince Evans
Optional English Subtitles
Buy Blu-ray: Amazon.com
German trailer:
Clip:
Free online on YouTube [1080p HD]:
Cast and characters:
Claude Akins … Bert Springer; Charles Frank … Joe Harmon; Deborah Winters … Cindy Beck; Bert Remsen … Mayor Douglas; Sandy McPeak … Chief Beasley; Pat Hingle … Doctor Hodgins; Tom Atkins … Buddy; Howard Hesseman … Fred; John Harkins … Sylvan; Charles Siebert … Rich Finley; Penelope Windust … Gloria Beasley; Edwin Owens … Frank; Alex Colon … Hector; Lanny Horn … Harry Weed; Jerome Guardino … H.L. Williams; Jorge Cervera Jr. … Official; Noelle North … Honey Lamb; Bill Striglos … Ralph; Steve Bonino … Spud; Mary-Nancy Burnett … Teacher; Bill Erwin … Mr Schneider; Anita Keith … Mary; Iris Korn … Dorothy; Matthew Labyorteaux … Matthew; John Medici … Driver; Ruben Moreno … Pedro; Joseph Reale … Lineman; Laird Williamson … Smitty
Country of origin:
United States
Filming locations:
Moorpark, California
Piru Mansion – 829 and 837 Park Road, Piru, California
Technical specs:
1 hour 35 minutes
Mono
Aspect ratio: 1.33: 1
