By: Lana K. Wilson-Combs
“Paper Spiders” is an oddly titled, yet gripping and emotional coming-of-age drama from director and co-writer
Inon Shampanier (“Beautiful and Twisted,” “The Millionaire Tour”).
Casting is everything and Shampanier gets the best from his dynamic lead stars Lili Taylor (“The Conjuring” and TV’s “Perry Mason”) and Stefania LaVie Owen (“Krampus” and TV’s “Chance”).
The movie spotlights mental illness in a mature and thoughtful manner that is rarely seen in teen dramas. In “Paper Spiders” Owen plays a high school senior named Melanie. She’s a smart, straight A student and very ambitious. She has plans to go to college. She’s ecstatic when she gets accepted to USC because her father, who recently died after an illness, was an alum and Melanie knows he would be so proud of her accomplishments.
Melanie’s mother Dawn (Taylor) is too but has bittersweet feelings about her daughter leaving her. She’s all she has. Melanie and her mom have always been close, and Melanie really doesn’t want to leave, but it’s a great educational opportunity that she’s always dreamed about.
However, Melanie’s big plans abruptly change when she notices her mother’s erratic behavior. It begins when their next-door neighbor runs his car into a tree in their front yard. When Dawn confronts him about it, she tells Melanie he cussed at her.
Within days, Dawn tells Melanie that the neighbor is stalking her and is messing with her brain by using some sort of electronic waves. Even Dawn’s boss, Bill (David Rasche, TV’s “Succession”), a lawyer has noticed her odd behavior towards him and the clients she talks with on the phone.
As Dawn’s situation worsens, the more concerned and afraid Melanie becomes and for good reason. She’s just a kid trying to navigate her way through life and now suddenly she’s thrust into a world she knows nothing about. Melanie does manage to get advice from a psychiatrist.
Fortunately, she also gets some reassurance from a classmate ( Ian Nelson, “2 Minutes of Fame”) who really likes her. Still, Melanie feels helpless because her mom doesn’t think anything is wrong with her and she is hurt and upset that Melanie doesn’t believe what she tells her about this neighbor.
Things have gotten so bad that Dawn has hired a private detective (Max Casella, “The Rhythm Section” ) to spy on him and make sure he isn’t following her.
Dawn and Melanie’s fun and loving relationship is tested to the core and Melanie must decide whether to put her education on hold and take care of her mother whose paranoid delusions have made her angry and dangerous. It’s only a matter of time before she will completely snap.
“Paper Spiders” is realistic in its portrayal of mental illness and its impact on family and friends. Nothing is swept under the rug. Nothing is sugar coated. The film is both painful and heartwarming. It’s also outstanding.
Editor's Note: Be sure to catch my N2Entertainment.net movie talk segment on the Kitty O'Neal Show Fridays at 6:20 p.m. on radio station KFBK 93.1 FM and 1530 AM.
Check Out This Trailer For
"Paper Spiders"
Lana K. Wilson-Combs is a member of the Broadcast Film Critics Association (BFCA), The Black Film Critics Circle (BFCC), The American Film Institute (AFI), and a Nominating Committee Voting Member for the NAACP Image Awards.
