Somehow, I managed to sleep on Cobweb, which had a limited theatrical release in 2023. I had taken note of it, but I guess it just kind of slipped past me, and I didn’t get to see it until it hit Netflix last month. Boy, did I miss out!
Not only does its subject matter make it a great choice for Halloween viewing, it is also set during the Halloween season, so it’s a win/win.
Peter is a shy, quiet 8-year-old boy living in a weird house with his equally weird parents. He is bullied at school, and seems resigned to his sad little life. But a substitute teacher named Miss Devine takes note of him, and seems genuinely concerned, especially after seeing some very dark artwork that he has created.
Peter’s parents Carol and Mark behave in a very odd manner. They won’t allow him to go trick-or-treating because a neighborhood girl disappeared on Halloween night a few years back, but there is just something off about them.
When Peter starts hearing knocking sounds within the walls, and a quiet, whispery voice in his room, he is obviously terrified, but the voice talks to him reassuringly, telling him that his parents have trapped her in the walls of the house, and they are evil. It also tells him to fight back when it comes to his bully at school, and he ends up pushing the rotten kid down the stairs.
Obviously, Peter gets in trouble for that, and his dad sends him down to the basement as punishment. While he is there, Miss Divine shows up with the disturbing drawing Peter made, and her encounter with the parents is a very tense scene.
Cobweb is genuinely creepy, and it is powered by great acting performances. Lizzy Caplan and Antony Starr are Peter’s parents, and Starr in particular keeps us on our toes (partly due to his creepy smile). Cleopatra Coleman is believably kind and sympathetic as Miss Divine. But it’s Woody Norman’s portrayal of Peter that truly makes this movie – he is the rare child actor that seems completely natural, and my heart just went out to him through the whole film.
Once we (and Peter) discover who/what the voice in the walls belongs to, the creepy factor goes up about twenty notches, and the twist is *chef’s kiss.* I absolutely loved Cobweb, and recommend it for spooky season viewing.