Tarantulas: The Deadly Cargo
An airplane carring coffee beans from South America has some unpleasant stowaways: a hoard of tarantulas which overcome the pilots as the airplane is flying over an orange-producing town in California. The airplane crashes, and the unlucky inhabitants of the town release the poisonous spiders into their midst. Once the town's officials discover that the tarantulas are responsible for several deaths, the tarantulas have already descended upon the town's only orange-processing factory. The town's citizens risk their lives to remove the tarantulas from the factory while the poisonous pests are rendered motionless by the transmitted sound of buzzing bees
A made-for-TV creature feature that delivers classic arachnid terror with a slow burn and a curious sonic twist.
- Practical creature effects lean into ‘80s TV limitations but add a tangible creepiness to the tarantulas.
- The use of buzzing bees as a weapon against the spiders nods to inventive, if modest, creature-feature problem-solving.
- For fans of regional eco-horror and small-town disaster vibes, it’s a time capsule of early ‘80s genre TV.
- Pacing drags and character work is thin, so patience is required—best for viewers who savor atmosphere and concept over nonstop action.
