The Cursed Threads: Uncovering the Black Widow's Web of Deception

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The curse of the black widow is a popular legend that has been passed down through generations. It is said to be a curse that befalls anyone who comes into contact with a black widow spider. According to the legend, the black widow spider is a representative of the Greek goddess, Athena. The goddess was said to have been so envious of Athena's beauty that she cursed her to live as a spider for eternity. Because of this curse, anyone who encounters a black widow spider is said to suffer from terrible misfortune. The curse is believed to bring about a series of unfortunate events in the lives of those who are affected by it.


About a deadly metamorphosis that recalls horror flicks of the '50s. Tony Franciosa, Donna Mills, Patty Duke Astin, June Allyson, Vic Morrow. Flaps: Roz Kelly. Mrs. Lockwood: June Lockhart. Ragsdale: Max Gail. Aspa: Jeff Corey. Cozart: Sid Caesar. Wallace: Robert Burton. Lenzi: Michael DeLano. Directed by Dan Curtis.

I touched upon this movie in my Spookies review and deliberately mentioned I wouldn t be going into depth about it because I had plans to review it, well, here I am, reviewing it. I was ten by this time and allowed to stay up later, but when it came to the full reveal of the monster in the third act it looked nothing like what was advertised, it was essentially just a giant black widow spider, and what I figured happened was my grandmother fell asleep, like she tended to do during films at night, and lied to me the next day.

Curse of the black widow

The curse is believed to bring about a series of unfortunate events in the lives of those who are affected by it. It is said that the curse can cause financial ruin, illness, accidents, and even death. Many people believe that the curse is so powerful that it can destroy families and leave a lasting impact on generations.

It Came From The Tube: CURSE OF THE BLACK WIDOW (1977)

Look, anyone who knows me is aware of my severe lack of fondness for spiders, as well as my love for movies about them. (I am riddled with inconsistency.) 1977 was a vintage year for arachnids; in addition to one of my all time favorite movies, Kingdom of the Spiders, the small screen offered up the telefilm Curse of the Black Widow, a Dan Curtis effort that never fails to entertain. Just keep the buggers away from me, okay?

Originally broadcast September 16 th as part of The ABC Friday Night Movie, Curse went up against Logan’s Run/Switch! on CBS, and the much tougher competition, NBC’s The Rockford Files/Quincy, M.E. For those not inclined to have Jack Klugman yell in their face for an hour, Curtis’ Curse offered a fun, goofy alternative.

Let’s crack open our cobwebbed faux TV GUIDE and have a look see:

CURSE OF THE BLACK WIDOW (Friday, 9pm, ABC)

A private eye investigates a series of murders in which the victims are mysteriously wrapped in spider webbing. Anthony Franciosa, Patty Duke, Donna Mills star.

We open in a seedy California bar as the regulars, including P.I. Mark Higbie (Franciosa – Tenebrae), encounter a European woman named Valerie who needs a ride home. One of the gents obliges, and meets his demise at the hands (and glowing eyes) of Valerie right in the parking lot. Enter Lt. Gully Conti (Vic Morrow – Humanoids from the Deep) and medical examiner Ragsdale (Max Gail – Barney Miller), none too keen to let Higbie in on the investigation.

But he does his own digging, and finds out that there have been several murders through the years in the same area; men wrapped in a silken cocoon with two huge puncture marks in their chest – and all their blood drained. Oh, and replaced with black widow venom. Into his life comes Leigh (Mills – Knots Landing), who wants Higbie to find out why the cops are questioning her about the bar death. Well, as it turns out Leigh was either married to, or dated, every one of the punctured spider beaus. Our intrepid sleuth presses further, and finds out that Leigh and her twin sister Laura (Duke – The Swarm) were in an airplane crash as babies, and one of them was bitten several times by a horde (cache? Gaggle? Pod?) of black widow spiders. Perhaps there’s something to the Native American folklore of the Spider Woman who preys during the full moon…

You simply have to be on board with Dan Curtis to enjoy Curse of the Black Widow; ubiquitous throughout the ‘70s, if you watched the daytime soap Dark Shadows, the Carl Kolchak TV movies The Night Stalker and The Night Strangler, the theatrical (and personal favorite) Burnt Offerings, and Karen Black’s TV tour de force Trilogy of Terror, you were weaned on a whole lot of Curtis, be it as a producer and/or director. While he always put together top notch talent, he was underrated as a director; not the most visually stylish perhaps, but he always drew solid work from his casts and could tell a hell of a story.

Much like this one. One part ‘50s giant monster movie, two parts Raymond Chandler, Curse has enough plot for three horror films yet somehow Curtis makes it all work. Is it silly? Of course it is. How could the tale of a femme fatale cum giant spider be anything but? His work is firmly focused on character, even if they’re thinly drawn; Curtis knows he’s giving us outlines here, but so do a lot of noirs that deal in types, not people. Look at the character names: Higbie. Gully. Leigh and Laura Lockwood. Ragsdale. Higbie’s assistant, played wonderfully by Roz Kelly (New Year’s Evil) is called Flaps. The teleplay by Robert Blees (Frogs) and Earl W. Wallace (Witness) knows exactly what it is, unapologetically so; they lean into the ridiculous even while the actors play it straight, making it even funnier. Curse often plays like a stretched out Kolchak episode without Darren McGavin; and while that may seem disappointing, it still offers as much charm as Curtis can cram onto the screen.

Franciosa is especially energetic as Higbie, Duke shows off a few new flavors I never noticed before, and if Morrow is in, so am I. My favorite bit part is awarded to that legendary Native American actor *checks notes* Jeff Corey (Battle Beyond the Stars), who offers up an exposition dump near the end, caterpillar eyebrows and all.

As for that ending: Curtis lets it all hang out in a fiery climax, and if you were just sticking around to see a less than convincing monstrous arachnid, you’re in luck. Curtis makes no apologies for that either, nor does he hide it. Curse of the Black Widow has no time to wallow in its shortcomings; when you’re this busy being entertaining, why bother?

About the Author - Scott Drebit

Scott Drebit lives and works in Calgary, Alberta, Canada. He is happily married (back off ladies) with 2 grown kids. He has had a life-long, torrid, love affair with Horror films. He grew up watching Horror on VHS, and still tries to rewind his Blu-rays. Some of his favourite horror films include Phantasm, Alien, Burnt Offerings, Phantasm, Zombie, Halloween, and Black Christmas. Oh, and Phantasm.

This “Valerie” has got balls too, she returns to that very bar where she killed Chatham, telling Carlo she wants to talk to the police. I’m calling bullshit right here, I always assumed she liked Carlo too and came back to drain him. Carlo calls Higbie and tells him she’s here and he’s going to take her over to his house so he can take her to the cops. After they pull up to a red light, she snatches the keys from the ignition and bolts from the car, leading him to a nearby zoo where she kills him! This is the more explicit fangs-in-the-chest scene I mentioned before. Since these transformations are never shown I kept wondering if she was shedding her cloths and then transforming, or was it something like Bela Lugosi turning into a bat where all her clothing transformed too? That would be the cheesiness rearing it’s head if the latter was the case, but the movie keeps you in the dark about this aspect of her metamorphosis. During Carlo’s death she does begin to shed her coat and unzip her dress, so who knows.
Curse of the black widow

However, not everyone believes in the curse of the black widow. Some argue that it is simply a superstition, and that people who encounter misfortune after encountering a black widow are simply victims of coincidence. They argue that there is no scientific evidence to support the existence of a curse. Nevertheless, the legend of the curse of the black widow continues to persist. Many people still fear the black widow spider and take precautions to avoid encountering it. Some even go as far as to hire professional exterminators to rid their homes of any potential black widow infestations. Overall, the curse of the black widow is a captivating tale that has captured the imagination of people around the world. Whether one believes in the curse or not, it is undeniably a powerful legend that continues to fascinate and intrigue..

Reviews for "The Black Widow Curse Unveiled: Exploring the Origins of the Myth"

1. Sarah - 2 stars - I was really looking forward to watching "Curse of the black widow" as I'm a fan of mystery movies, but I was left disappointed. The plot was predictable, with no real twists or surprises. The character development was weak, and I found it hard to connect with any of the characters. The dialogue felt forced and unnatural, and the acting was subpar. Overall, it felt like a poorly executed attempt at a suspenseful thriller.
2. John - 1 star - "Curse of the black widow" was a major letdown. The pacing was slow, and I found myself losing interest halfway through the movie. The special effects were lackluster, and the CGI was poorly done. The storyline was confusing and convoluted, leaving me scratching my head trying to piece it all together. The ending was anticlimactic, and I was left feeling unsatisfied. I would not recommend this movie to anyone looking for a thrilling and engaging watch.
3. Emily - 2 stars - I had high hopes for "Curse of the black widow," but unfortunately, it fell flat for me. The plot was cliché and unoriginal, lacking any depth or originality. The acting was mediocre at best, and the characters felt one-dimensional. The cinematography was lackluster, with awkward camera angles and uninspiring visuals. Overall, it felt like a wasted opportunity for a captivating mystery thriller. I would advise skipping this one and opting for a better mystery movie instead.

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