Paper Spiders

Play trailer

1:50

Paper Spiders

PG

2021

1h 50m

Drama

Comedy

Play Trailer

Watchlist

Watchlist

Tomatometer

Popcornmeter

100%

Tomatometer

42 Reviews

91%

Popcornmeter

100+ Ratings

Dawn (Lili Taylor) recently lost her husband and experiences growing anxiety as her daughter Melanie (Stefania Owen) plans to move away for college. An argument with a hostile new neighbor aggravates Dawn's mental condition, and she begins to show signs of paranoid delusions. Melanie attempts a series of interventions, but challenging Dawn's reality of persecution threatens to destroy their loving relationship. Melanie is forced to make the toughest of choices as she struggles to support her mother on the path toward recovery and healing. A bittersweet story about coming of age in the shadow of mental illness.

Critics Consensus

A coming-of-age drama that thoughtfully handles hard-hitting themes, Paper Spiders is anchored by heartbreaking performances from its leads.

Read Critics Reviews

Randy Myers

San Jose Mercury News

05/27/2021

3.5/4

The screenplay from Natalie Shampanier is astute and purposeful. "Paper Spiders" doesn't put a happy face on any of this, but it does instill hope and understanding.

Go to Full Review

Guy Lodge

Variety

05/25/2021

If the film's flirtations with full-tilt melodrama occasionally strain credibility, a pair of intuitive, thoughtfully inhabited performances pull proceedings back from the edge every time.

Go to Full Review

Katie Walsh

Los Angeles Times

05/07/2021

Personal experience brings a rare honesty and authenticity to this film about mental illness.

Go to Full Review

Ezequiel Boetti

Otroscines.com

05/12/2022

3/5

A film that avoids at all cost to fall into cheesiness. [Full review in Spanish]

Go to Full Review

Jackie K. Cooper

jackiekcooper.com

12/20/2021

6/10

Outstanding acting and a script that takes a sober look at mental illness.

Go to Full Review

Danielle Solzman

Solzy at the Movies

11/01/2021

Drawing upon personal experiences, Paper Spiders benefits from Lili Taylor and Stefania LaVie Owen's performances.

Go to Full Review

Read all reviews

Terra T

@RT38354584 02/14/2025

Paper Spiders gave me chills all around. It's hard to pull off these kinds of movies but this definitely did it. A truly great movie!

See more

Peter W

@RT73789474 10/07/2024

I stumbled across this movie and it is now in my top 10 list of favorites. It is undeniably powerful, heartbreaking, unforgettable, and overall just so well crafted.

See more

Tory C

@RT82742515 07/10/2024

Paper Spiders is an incredibly powerful story, and is handled extremely realistically. It’s probably the best movie I watched this year. If anyone has experience with a friend or family member with mental illness, they would certainly be able to relate to the main character’s heartbreaking journey. 10/10

See more

Cher C

@RT98411418 05/07/2024

Where has this gem been hiding? Paper Spiders is a bitter sweet story that makes you feel empathy and compassion towards its characters. Its exquisitely told and well worth your time.

See more

Amelia B

@RT65825096 05/06/2024

This movie had me in tears! Love it! Heartfelt and raw.

See more

Kevin L

@Lakeman 09/10/2023

Stefania Owen is very good here. Lily Taylor was in and out with the melodrama for me. 3 stars

See more

Read all reviews

Read More

Read Less

WRITE A REVIEW

EDIT REVIEW

POST RATING

Inon Shampanier

Director

Lili Taylor

Dawn

Stefania Owen

Melanie

Peyton List

Lacy

Ian Nelson

Daniel

Max Casella

Gary

God Bless the Broken Road

18%

77%

God Bless the Broken Road

Watchlist

TRAILER

for God Bless the Broken Road

A Question of Faith

40%

76%

A Question of Faith

Watchlist

TRAILER

for A Question of Faith

Tigertail

83%

67%

Tigertail

Watchlist

TRAILER

for Tigertail

Overcomer

59%

98%

Overcomer

Watchlist

TRAILER

for Overcomer

Skater Girl

88%

85%

Skater Girl

Watchlist

TRAILER

for Skater Girl

Discover more movies and TV shows.

View More

Paper Spiders: Exclusive Trailer 1

1:50

View more videos

View more photos

Synopsis

Dawn (Lili Taylor) recently lost her husband and experiences growing anxiety as her daughter Melanie (Stefania Owen) plans to move away for college. An argument with a hostile new neighbor aggravates Dawn's mental condition, and she begins to show signs of paranoid delusions. Melanie attempts a series of interventions, but challenging Dawn's reality of persecution threatens to destroy their loving relationship. Melanie is forced to make the toughest of choices as she struggles to support her mother on the path toward recovery and healing. A bittersweet story about coming of age in the shadow of mental illness.

Director: Inon Shampanier
Producer: Ash Christian, Anne Clements
Screenwriter: Natalie Shampanier
Distributor: Entertainment Squad
Production Co: Cranium Entertainment, Idiot Savant Pictures
Rating: PG
Genre: Drama, Comedy
Original Language: English
Release Date (Theaters): May 7, 2021, Limited
Release Date (Streaming): May 7, 2021
Runtime: 1h 50m

Most Popular at Home Now