House of White Spiders : A Hammy Hackettstown on a Shoestring Budget

The Budget Never Lies

On November 12th, Centenary University hosted a special screening and Q&A with the cast and crew of House of White Spiders in the cozy corners of the Taylor Memorial Library. Directed by Hackettstown’s own Gregg Taylor, this 2010 low-budget film took center stage at Centenary’s screening and oh, what a ride it was. 

Taylor, a Hackettstown native, revealed during the Q&A that the film was made for a meager sum of less than $20,000. When asked about the budget, he admitted to inflating the numbers just to get his film on the esteemed internet movie database (more commonly known as IMDb) as it did not meet the minimum budget amount set by the database. They finally accepted his 5th or 6th attempt with the film “officially” having a budget of $65,000. 

I start with this story because it tells you everything you need to know about what you are getting yourself into if you decide to watch House of White Spiders. Allow me the privilege to explain why you should give this independent horror film a chance before dismissing it.  

The premise is straightforward. Stephen Kramer is a struggling artist living in the city and begrudgingly accepts a job in the country town of Raven’s End (a clear alias for Hackettstown) cleaning out an old and dilapidated Victorian house. After ignoring ominous warnings from town locals, Stephen starts to uncover many secrets of House of White Spiders. Stephen begins to have unexplained experiences with the supernatural that may or may not have sinister intentions for him.  

Hometown Charm 

The film is almost entirely shot in Hackettstown and this is one of the big reasons to watch. For students and locals, it is the Hackettstown connection that adds another layer of entertainment, as it is fun to see our leading man Stephen travel on local roads and see the town as a backdrop to the story. There are many shots of Main Street and seeing the now closed Trading Post that was a staple of Hackettstown is worth the price of admission alone. A special shout out to the Union cemetery located right in the heart of Hackettstown that serves as the setting for the climax and showcases all the macabre beauty of a nearly 200 year old cemetery. 

The cast and crew are clearly having a blast, and that fun carries over to the audience’s enjoyment. Notable roles include William Rivera who plays Stephen, Melissa Erhart as Stephen’s girlfriend Jessica, Amy Jo Schaefer as Lindsey, a close friend to Jessica, and Scott Noble, who plays the creepy town mechanic. During the Q&A, Noble revealed that he actually is a local Hackettstown mechanic and even provided his own towing truck in multiple sequences.   

The plot, which is reminiscent of many genre classics, unfolds in typical B-movie horror fashion. At two hours, House of White Spiders does not reinvent the wheel of horror filmmaking. There is nothing revolutionary or thought provoking, but it is not trying to be. Instead, the real charm lies in seeing everything unfolds in the sights and sounds of Hackettstown. Even the most ridiculous scenes gain a local twist, making the entire experience oddly endearing and if you happen to call Hackettstown home, it's a double treat. 

The script is witty with a surprising amount of humor. The story is consistently entertaining, with cinematic nods to Sam Rami’s Evil Dead and Friday the 13th (filmed just 15 minutes from Centenary in Blairstown). Both George Romaro’s zombie classic Night of the Living Dead and 1922’s influential Nosferatu make appearances in key scenes as homage with Taylor taking inspiration from horror films of the past. 

The Power of Music

One of the strongest aspects of White Spiders is the music that steals the show whenever it is featured. At times, feeling like a full symphony orchestra is playing along with the scenes. Centenary Professor of music, Joe Coco, attended the screening and during the Q&A session pointed out this strength of the film, stating, 

“What I noticed in this movie, is the way the soundtrack moves you through each scene without very brutal cuts that are seen in most Hollywood movies.” 

I agree with Coco’s musical assessment, as music can often make or break a horror scene contextually. Taylor understands the importance of music shaping the tone and atmosphere and his creative choices show he is in full command of his craft. 

The standout musical sequence must be a three-minute scene where our protagonist, Stephen, cleans out the ghoul-filled house to the infectious beat of “Bang the Gong” by T.Rex. It is a delightful spectacle watching William Rivera dance around the haunted house before the impending doom begins. What was the most expensive part of the entire production? Securing the rights to the song, which set them back a cool six thousand dollars. Bang for the buck, indeed! 

House of White Spiders may not be everyone's cup of tea, but for lovers of low-budget horror films and Hackettstown locals, it is a must-see. Even if Gregg Taylor has to fib a little on IMDb to get his moment in the spotlight. If you are looking for a spooky night with a side of hometown charm, House of White Spiders has you covered.