Female journalist Rahimi travels to the Iranian holy city of Mashhad to investigate a serial killer targeting sex workers.
Female journalist Arezoo Rahimi (Zar Amir-Ebrahimi, White Paradise) travels to the Iranian holy city of Mashhad to investigate a serial killer targeting sex workers. As she draws closer to exposing his crimes, the opportunity for justice grows harder to attain when the murderer is embraced by many as a hero. Based on the true story of the 'Spider Killer' Saeed Hanaei (Mehdi Bajestani, 'Whisper"), who saw himself as on a mission from God as he killed 16 women between 2000 and 2001.
Nominated for the Palme d'Or at the 2022 Cannes Film Festival (and winner at Cannes for Best Actress, Zar Amir-Ebrahimi), "Holy Spider" was selected as the Danish entry for Best International Feature Film at the 95th Academy Awards (and made the December shortlist) in this "riveting, true-crime serial killer thriller." (Tom Meek, Cambridge Day)
Bonus Materials
- Q&A with Ali Abbasi, moderated by Ana Lily Amirpour
- Q&A with moderator Reza Safai at Laemmle Town Center
- Q&A at IFC Center with Ali Abbasi
- Interview with Director Ali Abbasi
- Interview with Producer Jacob Jarek
- Interview with Actor Mehdi Bajestani
- Interview with Producer Sol Bondy
- Interview with Actor Zar Amir-Ebrahimi
- In Persian with English Subtitles
