Netflix Just Dropped a Creepy Hidden Gem Perfect for Spooky Season — Starring Homelander
If you slept on director Samuel Bodin’s Cobweb when it got dumped into theaters in 2023, now is the perfect time to finally check it off your watchlist. The domestic-horror slow-burn starring Antony Starr (yes, Homelander) and Lizzy Caplan (Castle Rock) initially landed inexplicably in the middle of summer and quietly dissipated into the ether. But if you find yourself craving something that smells faintly of dry leaves, musty old houses, and mounting dread, pull on a flannel, pour something warm, and queue up this new-to-Netflix release.
In the movie, a lonely kid named Peter (Woody Norman) starts hearing a mysterious tapping from behind his bedroom wall and becomes convinced his parents (played by Starr and Caplan) are hiding a terrible secret. Set against the backdrop of a small town where the ghostly memories of missing children linger in the atmosphere, Peter finds himself confiding in his compassionate teacher, Miss Devine (Cleopatra Coleman). Before long, Miss Devine and Peter discover the dark truth that sometimes, home is where the horror is.
What makes Cobweb such a strong October movie marathon contender is its pitch-perfect autumnal vibe. Drenched in muted colors, an excessive amount of pumpkins, and shadowy, stylized cinematography, Cobweb perfectly captures the essence of a crisp fall evening. And instead of bombarding with endless jump scares (although there are a few, to be sure), Cobweb thrives on slow-burn tension and a sense of creeping paranoia. It also features a beautifully haunting and unnerving score from Drum & Lace that sprinkles an extra special dusting of pumpkin spice flavor over each and every scene.
At its heart, this is a story of family horror that taps into the unsettling friction between the expectations of home and the terrifying unknown of what actually lurks within the very same walls. Even though Woody Norman delivers a wonderful performance as young Peter, it is, without a doubt, Antony Starr and Lizzy Caplan who steal the show.
After years of portraying the cold, composed, and unhinged leader of The Seven, Homelander, on the Prime Video series The Boys, Starr’s ability to subtly shift from dad-mode to demon is perfectly honed and in full effect here. Though not playing a superhero this time, his calm menace gives the family dynamics a tense edge that keeps you guessing until the end.
Similarly, Caplan brings the anxious, brittle energy that makes the parental relationship in Cobweb feel both believable and bizarre. Every single moment she is on screen, there’s a palpable unease and simmering panic just beneath the surface that balances the narrative’s slow burn early acts, and big swing-filled final act. Where Starr’s performance is more measured, it’s Caplan’s haunted energy that helps sell the whole dang thing.
What has been unfortunate about Cobweb’s legacy is that it really seemed doomed from the beginning. A true victim of studio indifference, Cobweb experienced a short theatrical run and a lack of further marketing support that made it difficult to gain any real traction with horror fans. Coupled with mixed initial reviews, it has since been pretty much black-holed in many horror fans’ minds.
All this to be said, sometimes haters can be harsh, and the hate isn’t always fully deserved. So if you’re seeking something cozy to get you in the Halloween spirit, consider this a personal little nudge to check your preconceptions at the door, push play on Cobweb and let the vibes envelop you.
Cobweb is now available to stream on Netflix. And if physical media is more your thing, the movie is also available on disc, and affordable, at that.
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