--- product_id: 3014127 title: "Tarantula" price: "NT$1298" currency: TWD in_stock: true reviews_count: 12 url: https://www.desertcart.tw/products/3014127-tarantula store_origin: TW region: Taiwan --- # Tarantula **Price:** NT$1298 **Availability:** ✅ In Stock ## Quick Answers - **What is this?** Tarantula - **How much does it cost?** NT$1298 with free shipping - **Is it available?** Yes, in stock and ready to ship - **Where can I buy it?** [www.desertcart.tw](https://www.desertcart.tw/products/3014127-tarantula) ## Best For - Customers looking for quality international products ## Why This Product - Free international shipping included - Worldwide delivery with tracking - 15-day hassle-free returns ## Description You can run and you can hide but there is no escaping the sci-fi classic Tarantula about a science experiment gone horribly wrong! When biochemist Leo Carroll (John Agar) decides to feed the world by using a special growth formula on plants and animals, he instead creates a spider of mammoth proportions with an appetite to match. Escaping from the laboratory and feeding off cattle and humans, this towering tarantula has the people of Desert Rock, Arizona, running for their lives. Can this horrible creature be stopped or will the world succumb to this oversized arachnid? Review: A Timeless Classic That Still Spins a Thrilling Web - "Tarantula," released in 1955, is one of those movies that stay in the memory of those who grew up watching classic sci-fi horror films. Returning to it years later, the film remains engaging, proving its worth as a timeless classic. Here's why: Engaging Storyline: At its core, "Tarantula" tells a tale of scientific experimentation gone awry, resulting in a giant spider terrorizing a small desert town. The story is both engaging and thought-provoking, touching on themes of human hubris and nature's retaliation. Solid Performances: Though the film may not boast an A-list cast, the actors deliver convincing performances that suit the tone of the film. Their commitment to the material adds authenticity to the outlandish plot. Effective Special Effects: Considering its age, "Tarantula" offers surprisingly effective special effects. The giant spider's movements are impressively animated, and the film employs clever techniques to make it appear menacing and real. Atmospheric Direction: Directed by Jack Arnold, "Tarantula" benefits from skilled filmmaking that builds tension and maintains interest. The direction uses shadows, music, and pacing to create an atmosphere that supports the horror and intrigue of the story. Nostalgic Charm: For those who remember watching "Tarantula" in their youth, revisiting the film can be a delightful trip down memory lane. Its vintage style and classic storytelling offer a charm that transcends generations. A Lesson in Classic Sci-Fi Horror: As a piece of 1950s cinema, "Tarantula" serves as a fascinating study in how filmmakers of the era approached science fiction and horror. It offers a window into the fears, imagination, and creativity of the time. Summary: "Tarantula" may not be a masterpiece, but it's a solid, enjoyable film that continues to entertain decades after its release. Its engaging story, commendable performances, and skillful direction make it a standout in the classic sci-fi horror genre. Whether you're revisiting it from your youth or discovering it for the first time, "Tarantula" provides a satisfying, nostalgic experience that's worth a watch. It's a testament to a time when storytelling and creativity could turn even the most improbable premise into a captivating film. Review: Another Classic 1950s Sci-Fi Flick That Still Holds Up - I first caught this movie one night back in the 1980s on a local channel at about 3:00am, and I loved it immediately, as I do many 1950s sci-fi/horror flicks. This one creeped me out too. I came upon this DVD and bought it on the spot. I wanted to see it again and see if it still holds up for me. It does, and I still love it. The mood and vibe of the film is still creepy, and the 1950s special effects, primitive as they are, work very well and also still hold up. Directed by Jack Arnold, this is no surprise. The scenes with the giant tarantula suddenly walking into the frame, or suddenly popping up and crawling over the top of a mountain while eyeing new human prey as it starts down the other side, are still creepy and menacing. This is a great little flick, right up there with Arnold's other great films of the genre, as well as the works of others in the genre such as "THEM!", "The Fly" and "The Thing From Another World" etc. The cast is excellent, with both fine established character actors, as well as at least one up and coming actor in a small role here who would go on to become an American icon. This would be Clint Eastwood, who makes his appearance near the end of the film as he prepares for his later "Dirty Harry" character by getting dirty with a 100 foot spider who is anything but a "punk." Sorry, I couldn't resist. The leading man here is John Agar who is quite good in the role as the comforting small town doctor who helps figure the mystery out, and as a little piece of trivia, the leading lady here is the gorgeous Mara Corday, who would many years later meet up with Mr. Eastwood face to face as "Loretta" in the coffee shop robbery scene of the Dirty Harry film "Sudden Impact." The film print and transfer here are excellent. It is sharp, clear, and any sort of imperfections, especially for a film of this vintage, are not even worth mentioning. It appears to have been taken straight from the original 1955 negative, and it looks pretty fantastic. You likely won't see the film looking any better than it does here. Not enough to matter. The audio is 2.0 Dolby Digital Mono, and it's clean. clear and fine. This all said, this DVD is about as bare bones as it gets. It consists of the film, and nothing else - and I mean "nothing" else. There isn't even a menu. As soon as you pop it into your player, the movie begins. I guess that's the point of these Universal "Vault Series" releases. Vintage and hard to find '50s sci-fi classics that would otherwise likely never see the light of day on DVD. A few little extra tidbits would've been cool, but I feel lucky just to have a nice DVD copy of this vintage sci-fi classic. If you like the movie and simply want to see it and own a copy, you can't go wrong here. ## Technical Specifications | Specification | Value | |---------------|-------| | ASIN | B005ETANC2 | | Actors | John Agar, Leo G. Carroll, Mara Corday, Nestor Paiva, Ross Elliott | | Aspect Ratio | 1.33:1 | | Best Sellers Rank | #10,854 in Movies & TV ( See Top 100 in Movies & TV ) #306 in Horror (Movies & TV) | | Customer Reviews | 4.6 4.6 out of 5 stars (1,788) | | Director | Jack Arnold | | Is Discontinued By Manufacturer | No | | Item model number | AVMDU96839D | | MPAA rating | NR (Not Rated) | | Media Format | NTSC | | Number of discs | 1 | | Producers | William Alland | | Product Dimensions | 7.5 x 5.5 x 0.5 inches; 3.5 ounces | | Release date | July 27, 2011 | | Run time | 1 hour and 21 minutes | | Studio | Universal Studios | | Writers | Martin Berkeley, Robert M. Fresco | ## Product Details - **Format:** NTSC - **Genre:** Horror, Science Fiction & Fantasy - **Language:** English - **Runtime:** 1 hour and 21 minutes ## Images ![Tarantula - Image 1](https://m.media-amazon.com/images/I/51T5eyRAa-L.jpg) ## Customer Reviews ### ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ A Timeless Classic That Still Spins a Thrilling Web *by C***T on July 30, 2023* "Tarantula," released in 1955, is one of those movies that stay in the memory of those who grew up watching classic sci-fi horror films. Returning to it years later, the film remains engaging, proving its worth as a timeless classic. Here's why: Engaging Storyline: At its core, "Tarantula" tells a tale of scientific experimentation gone awry, resulting in a giant spider terrorizing a small desert town. The story is both engaging and thought-provoking, touching on themes of human hubris and nature's retaliation. Solid Performances: Though the film may not boast an A-list cast, the actors deliver convincing performances that suit the tone of the film. Their commitment to the material adds authenticity to the outlandish plot. Effective Special Effects: Considering its age, "Tarantula" offers surprisingly effective special effects. The giant spider's movements are impressively animated, and the film employs clever techniques to make it appear menacing and real. Atmospheric Direction: Directed by Jack Arnold, "Tarantula" benefits from skilled filmmaking that builds tension and maintains interest. The direction uses shadows, music, and pacing to create an atmosphere that supports the horror and intrigue of the story. Nostalgic Charm: For those who remember watching "Tarantula" in their youth, revisiting the film can be a delightful trip down memory lane. Its vintage style and classic storytelling offer a charm that transcends generations. A Lesson in Classic Sci-Fi Horror: As a piece of 1950s cinema, "Tarantula" serves as a fascinating study in how filmmakers of the era approached science fiction and horror. It offers a window into the fears, imagination, and creativity of the time. Summary: "Tarantula" may not be a masterpiece, but it's a solid, enjoyable film that continues to entertain decades after its release. Its engaging story, commendable performances, and skillful direction make it a standout in the classic sci-fi horror genre. Whether you're revisiting it from your youth or discovering it for the first time, "Tarantula" provides a satisfying, nostalgic experience that's worth a watch. It's a testament to a time when storytelling and creativity could turn even the most improbable premise into a captivating film. ### ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ Another Classic 1950s Sci-Fi Flick That Still Holds Up *by J***A on October 9, 2015* I first caught this movie one night back in the 1980s on a local channel at about 3:00am, and I loved it immediately, as I do many 1950s sci-fi/horror flicks. This one creeped me out too. I came upon this DVD and bought it on the spot. I wanted to see it again and see if it still holds up for me. It does, and I still love it. The mood and vibe of the film is still creepy, and the 1950s special effects, primitive as they are, work very well and also still hold up. Directed by Jack Arnold, this is no surprise. The scenes with the giant tarantula suddenly walking into the frame, or suddenly popping up and crawling over the top of a mountain while eyeing new human prey as it starts down the other side, are still creepy and menacing. This is a great little flick, right up there with Arnold's other great films of the genre, as well as the works of others in the genre such as "THEM!", "The Fly" and "The Thing From Another World" etc. The cast is excellent, with both fine established character actors, as well as at least one up and coming actor in a small role here who would go on to become an American icon. This would be Clint Eastwood, who makes his appearance near the end of the film as he prepares for his later "Dirty Harry" character by getting dirty with a 100 foot spider who is anything but a "punk." Sorry, I couldn't resist. The leading man here is John Agar who is quite good in the role as the comforting small town doctor who helps figure the mystery out, and as a little piece of trivia, the leading lady here is the gorgeous Mara Corday, who would many years later meet up with Mr. Eastwood face to face as "Loretta" in the coffee shop robbery scene of the Dirty Harry film "Sudden Impact." The film print and transfer here are excellent. It is sharp, clear, and any sort of imperfections, especially for a film of this vintage, are not even worth mentioning. It appears to have been taken straight from the original 1955 negative, and it looks pretty fantastic. You likely won't see the film looking any better than it does here. Not enough to matter. The audio is 2.0 Dolby Digital Mono, and it's clean. clear and fine. This all said, this DVD is about as bare bones as it gets. It consists of the film, and nothing else - and I mean "nothing" else. There isn't even a menu. As soon as you pop it into your player, the movie begins. I guess that's the point of these Universal "Vault Series" releases. Vintage and hard to find '50s sci-fi classics that would otherwise likely never see the light of day on DVD. A few little extra tidbits would've been cool, but I feel lucky just to have a nice DVD copy of this vintage sci-fi classic. If you like the movie and simply want to see it and own a copy, you can't go wrong here. ### ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ Well Done *by D***S on October 5, 2025* One of the best. Better than "Them!" --- ## Why Shop on Desertcart? - 🛒 **Trusted by 1.3+ Million Shoppers** — Serving international shoppers since 2016 - 🌍 **Shop Globally** — Access 737+ million products across 21 categories - 💰 **No Hidden Fees** — All customs, duties, and taxes included in the price - 🔄 **15-Day Free Returns** — Hassle-free returns (30 days for PRO members) - 🔒 **Secure Payments** — Trusted payment options with buyer protection - ⭐ **TrustPilot Rated 4.5/5** — Based on 8,000+ happy customer reviews **Shop now:** [https://www.desertcart.tw/products/3014127-tarantula](https://www.desertcart.tw/products/3014127-tarantula) --- *Product available on Desertcart Taiwan* *Store origin: TW* *Last updated: 2026-04-26*