NOTE: The below Blu-ray captures were taken directly from the Blu-ray disc.

ADDITION: Kino Cult Blu-ray (August 2024): Kino Cult have transferred John "Bud" Cardos' Kingdom of the Spiders to Blu-ray for their 14th title of the sub-label. In 2010 we reviewed the Shout! Factory DVD, HERE, and have compared some captures below. Ronin Flix came out with an exclusive Blu-ray in 2017 that is OOP (out of print) and we never owned it. There is quite a shift in colors on the 1080P with much warmer skins tones and an overall shift from orange to blue. Contrast is a shade subdued, but overall detail advances and there is a notable amount more information in the frame - gaining on the left and top edges while losing slight on the bottom and right. It looks okay but probably the best it can look on this medium.

NOTE: We have added 58 more large resolution Blu-ray captures (in lossless PNG format) for DVDBeaver Patrons HERE

On their Blu-ray, Kino (Cult) use a DTS-HD Master 2.0 channel track (24-bit) in the original English language. Kingdom of the Spiders has shotguns, a few horses, cars, screams but the titular spiders don't contribute much in the way of dynamic sound. The film has uncredited stock music by the likes of Dominic Frontiere (Brannigan, Cleopatra Jones and the Casino of Gold, The Invaders TV series, The Stuntman), Jerry Goldsmith (The Don is Dead, Link, Breakout, The Salamander, The Mephisto Waltz, Seconds, Hoosiers, The Blue Max, Breakheart Pass, The Omen), Leonard Rosenman (Hide in Plain Sight, Countdown, Rebel Without a Cause, The Rise and Fall of Legs Diamond, Fantastic Voyage and A Man Called Horse,) Fred Steiner (Man From Del Rio, Time Limit, The St. Valentine's Day Massacre, The Killers, The Twilight Zone) etc. including music written and sung by, early rockabilly singer, Dorsey Burnette. The audio is clean if unremarkable via the lossless. Kino (Cult) offer optional English subtitles on their Region 'A'-locked Blu-ray.

The Kino Cult Blu-ray offers three (count'em three!) commentaries. Firstly - a new one by the late Lee Gambin (Massacred by Mother Nature: Exploring the Natural Horror Film.) He's an expert in eco-horror and a perfect choice for the in-depth commentary. He also talks about the film as a western and diegetic musical. He talks about other arachnid horrors (Arachnophobia, Tarantulas: The Deadly Cargo, Earth vs. the Spider, The Giant Spider Invasion.) He talks about the cast and crew including Woody Strode, William Shatner, Tiffany Bolling, director John "Bud" Cardos  etc. It is at his usual enthusiastic, complete, level and he will be missed. The Blu-ray, fittingly has this text at the beginning:

The other two commentaries are older ones but still have value; one by Director John "Bud" Cardos, Producer Igo Kantor (Hang 'Em High, Cyborg 2087), 'Spider Wrangler' Jim Brockett, cinematographer John Morrill (The Brotherhood of Satan, A Boy and His Dog), moderated by Lee Christian and Scott Spiegel who keep things at a good pace and there is some fun here. The last commentary is by producer Igo Kantor, and actress Tiffany Bolling (Bonnie's Kids), moderated by Marc Edward Heuck ('The Movie Geek' on the Comedy Central game show Beat the Geeks.) Repeated is a 10-minute interview with actress Tiffany Bolling being honest about the production, Shatner hitting on her, and her calmness around the spiders. There is also a short interview with writer Steve Lodge informing us of his intentions behind the story. Lastly, are two radio spot and a theatrical trailer. There are reversible covers (see below.)

John "Bud" Cardos' Kingdom of the Spiders is a 'so bad it's good' cinema gem with some unintentional kitsch entertainment. The film is notable for using 5,000 live spiders (Mexican spider wranglers paid $10 for each,) as well as many rubber models. So upwards of 1/2 million of the budget went solely to the purchase of spiders. Certainly more than enough for the viewer to get the heeby-jeebies. We love Captain 'Shatner' Kirk, Woody Strode (Sergeant Rutledge) is a huge bonus, and Tiffany Bolling is effective genre-cinema eye candy. Being picky, Tarantulas do make webs although the final scene is still quite disturbing. Kingdom of the Spiders is strangely rewatchable and the Kino Cult Blu-ray is the best way to indulge with three commentaries and more. Enjoy!

Gary Tooze