From the surface, Cobweb appears to have all the makings of a standout horror film. It offers a variety of terrifying elements, including home invasions, family freakshows, and haunted infestations. Director Samuel Bodin, known for his work on Netflix’s Marianne, sets the film against the backdrop of Halloween and a sinister distortion of the all-American household. However, despite its early promises, Cobweb falls short of delivering the desired shock value and suffers from a chaotic third act.

Lizzy Caplan and Antony Starr deliver entertaining performances as Mark and Carol, the anonymous parents. Starr’s portrayal of Mark exudes charm while evoking palpable unease, and Caplan fully embraces the skittish and mentally unstable Carol. These performances, combined with child star Woody Norman’s portrayal of a boy trying to escape both his eerie surroundings and his caretakers’ facade of parental adoration, add depth to the film.

Bodin’s direction and Bodin’s script come together to create a horror film that subverts the idea of “home sweet home” with a fairy tale-like twist. The autumnal imagery and eerie performances enhance the genre atmosphere, making the film increasingly effective as Mark and Carol drift further from reality.

However, Cobweb ultimately fails to fully explore its promising ideas. While the Halloween setting and seasonal elements create a mood, they lack deeper significance. The film incorporates horror staples, such as spiders and bumps in the night, without integrating them seamlessly into the narrative.

Devlin’s script offers textbook scares, which may delight casual thrill-seekers but offers little novelty for experienced horror fans. Bodin’s strength lies in his ability to inject ordinary scare tactics with impact, much like this year’s The Boogeyman. However, in Cobweb, he relies heavily on familiar horror templates from directors like Wes Craven, James Wan, and Mario Bava, resulting in a somewhat disappointing lack of originality.

The film’s bombshell twists also prove hit-or-miss. While Cobweb deserves credit for defying conventional storytelling, the execution of these revelations falls short of leaving a lasting impact. The editing is at times imprecise, and the screenplay rushes towards an ending that feels hastily developed.

Ultimately, Cobweb presents a mixed bag of horror elements. It showcases impressive performances from its lead actors but suffers from inconsistent momentum and missed opportunities for deeper exploration of its intriguing ideas.

Cobweb functions best as “Horror Vibes: The Movie”