User reviews

Greetings again from the darkness. There are many reasons that might force a kid to grow up too fast. But when it's in conjunction with having to care for a parent, we can consider it ill-fated. Director Inon Shampanier co-wrote the script with his wife, Natalie Shampanier, and they adeptly handle a story that, in lesser hands, could be over-wrought and not believable. Instead, they benefit from two excellent performances and deliver an emotional and poignant tale of mother and daughter and mental illness.

Lili Taylor stars as Dawn, mother to straight-A high school senior Melanie, played by Stefania LaVie Owen ("Messiah"). We first meet them while on a rainy day campus tour. Dawn is direct in expressing her wish that Melanie remain close to home for college, while ambitious Melanie wants to attend her late father's alma mater, USC, on a full academic scholarship. It's clear mother and daughter have a close relationship, but something is a bit off about Dawn, and we get our answer soon enough.

As the new neighbors are moving in, the truck backs into a tree that Dawn's husband planted years earlier. Dawn flips out, setting off a chain of events where she is convinced the new neighbor is spying on her, tormenting her, and endangering her. Of course, there is no proof of any of this, and the further Dawn slips, the more difficult it is for Melanie to carry the burden of school, a social life, and a paranoid-delusional mother.

Michael Cyril Creighton plays the school counselor that Melanie ropes into meeting with her mother. The scene is played to an awkward comedic effect, but also exemplifies how mental illness creates a stressful environment for everyone involved. Dawn's agitated attorney boss is played by David Rasche, and Melanie also sets up a profile for mom on an internet dating site, with less-than-hoped-for results. During all of this, Melanie begins a relationship with a rich, alcoholic classmate named Daniel (Ian Nelson), who understandably isn't equipped to deal with the situation either. Peyton List plays Melanie's bestie Lacy, and Max Casella has a couple of scenes as the Private Investigator Dawn hires to surveil the neighbor. All in all, it's a cluster of real life twisted up by mental illness.

Lili Taylor is excellent, and makes sure she keeps Dawn's actions in the believable-yet-sufferable mode. But the film really belongs to Stefanie LaVie Owen. This is a staggeringly good performance from the young actress, and she quietly conveys a strength in the face of shock and frustration, and the unfair burden she must carry. The film is a reminder that we don't get to pick our family, and the responsibilities can feel overwhelming at times. It's not a horror film, but rather one filled with personal horrors - and the film's title will make sense by the end.

This is not just a film about mental illness, it's a film about life, love and acceptance. It's about how you can not always change the things you want and must accept your loved ones, who are often far from perfect. A real lesson in compassion. The characters are portrayed in such a realistic way. Their riveting performances and the story itself makes you forget that you are watching a screen. This film will leave you thinking long after it's over. A must see!

Started off slow but it build up into an incredible movie of everything you can expect when forced to cope with a mentally ill patient. I think both actresses did amazingly well and the mother was so convincing I forgot she was actually acting. I felt almost all kinds of emotions just watching this one, from laughing to anger to frustration to hopelessness to teary. Good one there.

'Paper Spiders' is as wonderfully-acted as it is cleverly handled. Lili Taylor and Stefania Owen are excellent in this tragic story about a girl trying to save her mentally ill mom at all costs. The dialogue is really funny at times, and also quite realistic It is relevant to show the problems that people face which aren't often discussed, and when they are in Hollywood films they are done in a more contrived way, where as Paper Spiders hits paranoia head on in a very realistic, emotional way. This is real life, and this movie proves to be a true success.

This movie makes us understand delusion disorder, the mental illness can screw people life totally, especially the ones surround them. It's nothing dramatic and kinda sad the choice of the daughter. Mental health is really important.

Melanie (Stefania LaVie Owen) is alone with her troubled mother Dawn (Lili Taylor) a year after the death of her father. Dawn is having problems with the neighbor but it seems to be all in her head. Melanie is pursued by troubled and lovesick Daniel (Ian Nelson).

Daniel is infuriated. Dawn is frustrating. Even Melanie can be distressing. This is a disquieting movie about mental illness. I'll be very clear. I do not like Daniel. There is nothing appealing about him although I get the appeal for some girls. Being relentlessly pursued can be very intoxicating. Melanie is hooked on a different drug. I find this movie compelling although I would like a different ending.

Wow Was very pleasantly surprised by this film. It was a heavy subject with just the right amount of levity to be funny yet still retain the gravity of the subject. My wife's mother suffers from mental illness and if you've ever known someone who truly suffers you'll know Lili Taylor's performance is phenomenal and extremely convincingly played. Everything flowed together very well (plot and character development, beat and the killer soundtrack). The real gem here was Stefania's performance, she is a rising star and her chemistry with Lili was off the chart. In summary, a smart, touching and illuminating dramedy; definitely worth a watch.

This one deserves to be recognized. I can't personally think of another similar story out there and that uniqueness is something special.

This movie shines a light on what it is like to care for somebody with an illness (of any kind) and the repercussions of that, for the victim and their loved ones.

There are some astounding performances by Taylor, Owen, and Nelson, and the rest of the cast feels so right as well for this story. It starts with a fantastic script, which is in part due to the fact that this seems to be a personal and touching story. The direction, writing, and cinematography are very strong and hook you in right from the beginning.

This is a tremendous story of mental illness that will pull at your heartstrings and leave a lasting impression. IMO: this is one of the year's best dramas. The performances are simply incredible. I went in not knowing what to expect, only seeing that it received 100% on Rotten Tomatoes. Now I understand how deserved that is. Most movies today don't leave me captivated for the duration of the movie like this one. I'm not going to ruin the ending but I did especially appreciate how realistic it was, yet hopeful. A breathe of fresh air. I will be watching again.

Superb acting , beautiful yet extremely moving storyline.

If this was a book it would be absolutely brilliant, the story by itself is very emotional. But the movie is just frustrating, boring in places and highly unrealistic. They also didn't really know which direction they wanted to take it in so it ended up being a mishmash of comedy, high school romance and deep psychological drama which in most places didn't work together. Decent performances from the actors but nothing special. Overall poor writing and direction not at the same level of an incredibly emotional concept with a great view (albeit slightly stereotypical) of mental illness and grief.

This movie deserves recognition for it's cast, crew and wonderfully told story. There are very few films out there that have such a powerful message and the ability to touch the viewer in such a way. It is a profound and thought provoking film. It highlights the difficulties that arise when faced with the unique challenges of caring for someone with an illness (mental or otherwise).

The cast and crew did a great job in bringing such a wonderfully written script to life on the screen. I would absolutely recommend this film.

This was recommended after watching "Any Day Now" which in every metric was a far superior movie.

A film that promises a deep dive into the complexities of mental health but ultimately fails to deliver, leaving audiences with an overwhelming sense of boredom and frustration. Directed by Inon Shampanier, the film follows Melanie, a high school senior whose mother begins to exhibit signs of paranoid delusions.

One of the film's biggest flaws is its slow pacing, which makes the already thin plot feel even more stretched out and tedious. Scenes linger on mundane details, adding little to the overall narrative and leaving viewers waiting for something, anything, to happen.

The characters in Paper Spiders are equally lackluster, with Melanie and her mother, Dawn, failing to elicit much sympathy or interest. Melanie's journey is meant to be the emotional core of the film, but her character is so underdeveloped and unremarkable that it's hard to care about her struggles.

The relationship between Melanie and Dawn is also poorly explored, with their interactions feeling forced and unnatural. The film tries to depict the complexities of their mother-daughter dynamic but falls short, leaving their relationship feeling flat and unconvincing.

Thematically, Paper Spiders attempts to explore the impact of mental illness on family dynamics, but it does so in a superficial and uninspired way. The film touches on important issues such as empathy and understanding but fails to delve deep enough to make a meaningful impact.

I can't think of many films that made me laugh and cry so much... I saw this at the Woodstock film festival last year and have been thinking about it so often since. What begins as a fun, quirky coming of age dramedy gradually turns into a heartbreaking drama that is incredibly touching and powerful. Lili Taylor and Stefania Owen are both fantastic, and their love and pain feel so real. This is one of those films that stay with you long after you've seen them.

You are guaranteed to cry in this one, so keep tissues handy. This movie highlights and underlines the unbreakable bond between mothers and daughters... but it's not only for women (the men in my fam equally enjoyed it) and that's how you know you're watching something great. There aren't many movies like this one so it is very refreshing. If you're looking for a heartwarming, powerful story you've got to see this.

This was easily one of the best indie films I've seen all year. It deals with mental illness in a very honest and unique way, and Lili Taylor gives a terrific tour-de-force performance as a single mother suffering from paranoid delusions. It's also incredibly well shot. Every camera angle is very clearly thought out, and kind of reminds me of M. Night Shyamalan at his peak. Do yourself a favor and check this out.

Having a family member who suffered from mental illness this film really struck a chord. Lily Taylor was excellent!; her role was played so convincingly that it mirrored exactly behavior I saw in my family member. Thought it had the perfect balance of humor, teenage banter, light hearted conversations and lots of drama; while transporting the viewer into a world of delusional paranoia; really giving us an idea of how terrible an affliction mental illness is. I laughed, cried and waited anxiously for a good ending and was not disappointed. Stefania and Peyton are rising stars, finding their styles and getting better in each project they do. Will see this again with my wife when this is released to mainstream audience.

Paper Spiders is a beautifully written story about a teen's struggle to save her mentally ill mother from self-destruction. Perfectly cast and sensitively portrayed, this coming-of-age story is worth every minute and will leave you marveling at the strength of the human heart.

I was fortunate enough to see this beautiful film during its World Premiere at Dances With Films and I loved it. Inon Shampanier directed and co -wrote the script with his wife Natalie Shampanier. I have always been a Lily Taylor fan and I thought her work was absolutely beautiful in this film as a woman suffering from mental illness. I also fell in love with Stefania La Vie Owen and can't wait to see what work is ahead for her. These two women were wonderful together and absolutely broke my heart.

Glad to see this project; hopefully this film will help de-stigmatize mental illness which is more prevalent than I ever realized. The message that there are helpful options available to those who suffer and that those people need our love and caring really comes through in the picture. The serious topic is lightened by successful comic relief and the portrayal of a teenage girl's coming of age. Well told and brilliantly directed.

I had the pleasure of seeing this film on opening night, and haven't forgotten it since. It's based on a true story that captures a kind of mother-daughter relationship that we don't see often enough on screen.

I am sometimes wary of the repetitious tropes of stories about mental illness, but the filmmakers here have broken new ground and vitalized this sensitive genre while walking the tightrope of storytelling that is both charming and challenging, and speaking truth about dysfunctional love and the importance of family. It's funny and accessible, the dialogue sings, and all the characters are really engaging.

I highly recommend that you give this one a watch. You won't be disappointed. I'm happy to share that, of the dozens of family and friends who I've recommended it to, all have reported back glowing reviews and urgent pleas for filmmakers to tell more stories like this one!

I watched this on a whim and found it be my favorite film of 2020-- and I was lucky to have the chance to watch a good number of those up for awards this past year. It's exceedingly well made, unique, and features some incredible performances by the cast. One minute you'll be crying, the next you'll be laughing! Give it a watch.