Spider’s Web

Spider’s Web

Year: 1989

Runtime: 196 mins

Language: German

Drama

Ulrich Mühe portrays a ruthless German businessman born without a conscience, thriving in the turbulent aftermath of World I. His unprincipled rise is set against the starkly opposite worldview of a Jewish anarchist, highlighting the clash of morality and ambition in a stormy, chaotic era.

Spider’s Web (1989) – Spoiler-Free Movie Summary & Plot Overview

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In the shattered wake of the Great War, Germany teeters between ruin and rebirth, its streets echoing with the clamor of revolutions, broken monarchies, and the restless murmur of a society searching for direction. The atmosphere is heavy with ash‑colored clouds of uncertainty, where every conversation feels like a negotiation with the ghosts of defeat and every alley could hide the next flash of radical ideology. It is a world where ambition can be both a lifeline and a weapon, and where the line between order and chaos is drawn in soot and blood.

Theodor Lohse strides through this turmoil with a cold precision that seems almost mechanical. A young lieutenant whose sense of morality has been dissolved by humiliation and loss, he is driven by an unrelenting desire to climb the ladders of power that criss‑cross the fractured nation. Charismatic yet ruthlessly pragmatic, he navigates the murky corridors of clandestine groups, using every opportunity to cement his place among the emerging elite. His lack of conscience makes him a chameleon, shifting loyalties as easily as the political winds that sweep through coffee‑house debates and smoky back‑rooms.

Opposite him moves Benjamin Lenz, a Jewish figure whose anarchic outlook and proclivity for trading information mark him as a stark contrast to Lohse’s calculated ambition. Lenz operates in the shadows, dealing in secrets that could topple governments or ignite uprisings, yet he does so with a philosophy that prizes a different kind of freedom—one rooted in ideological conviction rather than personal gain. Their interactions are charged with a dangerous curiosity, each recognizing in the other a mirror of what the other could become.

The film unfolds in a tone that blends stark historical realism with a brooding, almost noir‑like aesthetic. Shadows linger over cobblestone streets, and the ever‑present hum of political unrest serves as a backdrop for a tense duel of wills. As the two men navigate a world where loyalty is fleeting and morality is a commodity, the audience is invited to ponder how far ambition can stretch before it unravels the very fabric of a nation on the brink.

Last Updated: December 03, 2025 at 23:43

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Movies about ruthless opportunists like in Spider’s Web

Ambition without morality powers a chilling climb through a crumbling society.Explore movies like Spider’s Web, featuring characters who seize power through immoral means in turbulent times. This list includes historical dramas and thrillers where ambition trumps conscience, focusing on unprincipled rises in chaotic, decaying societies.

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Narrative Summary

The narrative centers on a central figure who recognizes the vacuum of power in a destabilized world. They methodically manipulate events and people, escalating their influence and brutality. The story is a linear chronicle of their corrupting success, often concluding with their worldview validated, however bleakly.

Why These Movies?

Movies in this thread share a focus on a specific character archetype: the pragmatic, conscience-free individual who succeeds precisely because of their lack of scruples. They are united by a dark tone, steady pacing that charts the rise, and a heavy emotional weight derived from the protagonist's chilling actions.

Grim historical dramas about moral decay like Spider’s Web

Unflinching portraits of societies collapsing into brutality and hatred.Find movies similar to Spider’s Web that depict the grim moral decay of a historical period. These films are set in eras like Weimar Germany or other pre-war societies, showcasing a dark, tense, and heavy viewing experience focused on political violence and ethical collapse.

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Narrative Summary

These narratives unfold within a society on a pessimistic trajectory, often towards a known dark historical outcome. The plot follows how individuals either contribute to, resist, or are crushed by the rising tide of extremism and moral bankruptcy. The journey is one of escalating dread and inevitable downfall.

Why These Movies?

These films are connected by their shared, oppressive atmosphere and their use of history as a backdrop for exploring themes of hatred, betrayal, and the failure of civility. They consistently feature a high intensity, a dark tone, and a heavy emotional weight, making the viewing experience consistently tense and grim.

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Spider’s Web Summary

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Characters, Settings & Themes in Spider’s Web

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