Arachnophobia is one of the most common phobias, and one of the strongest among those subject to it. I tend to be one of those and so have never much enjoyed horror films featuring giant or menacing spiders. Although I was uncomfortable during "Arachnophobia", it was tolerable. This and "Eight Legged Freaks" are my two favorite spider films.
"Arachnophobia" benefits from an excellent script, great casting, uniformly good performances, and the injection of enough comic relief to calm anyone from getting too uncomfortable. Jeff Daniels is as reliable as ever, but it's John Goodman's gung-ho exterminator character that balances what would otherwise be a really uncomfortable movie. This isn't to say that it's light entertainment, as was "Eight Legged Freaks". It's not, it's a real horror film. But it will only make you squirm, not run for the theater exit.
"Arachnophobia" benefits from an excellent script, great casting, uniformly good performances, and the injection of enough comic relief to calm anyone from getting too uncomfortable. Jeff Daniels is as reliable as ever, but it's John Goodman's gung-ho exterminator character that balances what would otherwise be a really uncomfortable movie. This isn't to say that it's light entertainment, as was "Eight Legged Freaks". It's not, it's a real horror film. But it will only make you squirm, not run for the theater exit.