Scarlett Johansson’s Horror Past: Revisiting Eight Legged Freaks

Scarlett Johansson is preparing to take on a leading role in the upcoming Exorcist reboot, directed by Mike Flanagan and produced by Blumhouse Productions alongside Atomic Monster. The news, first reported by Deadline, has generated considerable interest. Flanagan commented,

Scarlett is a brilliant actress whose captivating performances always feel grounded and real, from genre films to summer blockbusters, and I couldn’t be happier to have her join this Exorcist film.

Details about Johansson’s character remain closely guarded. The project, initially scheduled for a March release, is currently without a confirmed date. Flanagan recently clarified on Tumblr that filming has yet to commence, as he intends to complete work on Carrie beforehand. Speaking at New York Comic Con 2024, he remarked,

My goal is to make the scariest movie I’ve ever made, and trying to make something that scares the shit out of me.

Before her rise to international fame through superhero blockbusters and acclaimed dramas, Johansson dipped her toes into the world of horror-comedy, portraying Ashley in the 2002 creature feature Eight Legged Freaks.

Eight Legged Freaks: A Look Back at the Arachnid Antics

Originally released as Arac Attack in certain territories, Eight Legged Freaks is a 2002 monster comedy directed by Ellory Elkayem. The cast includes David Arquette, Kari Wuhrer, Scott Terra, Doug E. Doug, and a young Scarlett Johansson. She appears as Ashley Parker, a sensible teenager caught up in a town overrun by enormous, mutated spiders, alongside her brother Mike and their mother, Sheriff Sam Parker.

The plot unfolds after a lorry accident contaminates a pond with toxic waste, which in turn affects the local cricket population. Spiders feeding on these insects grow to monstrous proportions, unleashing chaos on the unsuspecting residents. The story blends outlandish horror with tongue-in-cheek humour, featuring everything from oversized orb-weavers to explosive showdowns with the spider matriarch, Consuela.

The ensemble cast is as follows:

Johansson’s Ashley stands out as one of the more developed characters, displaying a mix of courage, quick thinking, and loyalty to her family amid the absurdity.

Critical Reception and Cult Status

Despite a middling 49% score on Rotten Tomatoes, Eight Legged Freaks offers a peculiar charm. Johansson, still early in her career, brings a certain poise to the role of Ashley Parker. The film managed to earn $45 million at the box office against a $30 million budget, making it a modest financial success.

The appeal of the film lies in its self-aware, campy approach. It never pretends to be a psychological tour de force, but instead delivers a blend of laughs, jumpy moments, and outlandish set pieces. David Arquette’s Chris McCormick fits the classic hapless hero, while Johansson’s Ashley provides a grounded, intelligent presence that lends the story a touch of emotional weight.

Johansson’s Early Career and Eight Legged Freaks’ Legacy

Before Eight Legged Freaks, Johansson had already appeared in several notable productions:

Though undeniably eccentric, the film has since become something of a minor cult favourite, particularly among those who grew up in the early 2000s or have a fondness for horror-comedy hybrids. Whether Johansson’s experience with giant spiders will influence her performance in the Exorcist reboot remains to be seen. Fans of Ashley Parker may well be curious to see her face a rather different kind of terror this time around.

For those interested, Eight Legged Freaks is available to rent on Apple TV.

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