Eight Legged Freaks

In the tranquil mining town of Prosperity, Arizona, a disaster begins when an incident involving a rabbit leads to a barrel of toxic waste contaminating a nearby reservoir. This unforeseen event sets the stage for a series of calamities, as the environment becomes dangerously altered.

An exotic spider farmer named Joshua frequently visits the contaminated site, collecting crickets for his vast array of spiders. During one visit, he introduces a local boy named Mike to his diverse collection, including Jumping spiders, Trapdoor spiders, and a large female orb-weaver named Consuela.

Tragedy strikes when a tarantula bites Joshua, causing chaos as he accidentally knocks over his cages. This moment leads to his gruesome demise at the hands of the very spiders he tended, marking the beginning of the arachnid threat swelling to enormous sizes.

As Mike heads home, he encounters his mother, Sheriff Samantha 'Sam' Parker, and Deputy Pete, who are dealing with the toxic barrel removed from the pond. The threat of the contamination looms larger as the town starts to take notice of the dangers lurking nearby.

The Mayor of Prosperity, Wade, calls a town meeting at the local mall to discuss the proposal of selling the mines and relocating due to the environmental risks. This meeting sparks a heated debate as Chris McCormick voices his strong opposition, recalling his father's legacy tied to the mines.

Harlan Griffiths, the local radio DJ, goes on air with a bizarre theory linking the increasing number of missing pets to extraterrestrial abductions. Despite his eccentric claims being dismissed by the community, they contribute to the eerie atmosphere in Prosperity.

Mike decides to check on Joshua and discovers the spider farm in disarray, with webbing everywhere and Joshua dead. He becomes acutely aware of the danger posed by the giant spiders and races to warn Chris, who is initially skeptical of the looming threat.

As miners reopen the mines in search of gold, the first victim falls to the massive spider lurking within. This incident serves as a wake-up call for the townspeople about the severity of the spider infestation.

The spider menace spreads rapidly through Prosperity, with Deputy Pete's cat being a casualty of one such attack. Meanwhile, businesses and farms experience aggressive assaults from various spider species, escalating the panic among townsfolk.

Chris and Sam are forced to confront the reality of the spider crisis while protecting Ashley from a giant male orb-weaver. This moment marks a turning point where Sam recognizes the gravity of the situation as they try to evade capture.

As chaos unfolds, Sam instructs Pete to retrieve weapons from the police station while the group seeks refuge in Harlan's trailer. They plan to send an urgent radio message about the dire state of affairs as the spider horde closes in.

Sam leads an evacuation to the mall, where residents barricade themselves against the impending spider onslaught. Harlan and Chris take to the roof in a desperate attempt to get help, showcasing their determination to survive the bizarre threat.

With the situation spiraling, Bret arrives with a forklift to break through the barricade, allowing the trapped residents to escape. This dramatic entrance provides a glimmer of hope amid the chaos as they navigate toward safety.

Chris uncovers his Aunt Gladys and the treasure his father sought within the mines, but not without a confrontation with Consuela. Utilizing a strategic distraction, he manages to evade her and cause a devastating explosion that changes the course of the battle.

In the aftermath, police arrive, initially suspecting extraterrestrial involvement before Pete clarifies the ordinary origin of the spiders. Harlan's radio broadcast reflects on the bizarre events while hinting at cover-ups, offering a darkly comedic end to the harrowing experience.