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Horror Cult Classic

When Los Angeles erupts, only an action hero can face a swarm of lava-breathing spiders.

LAVALANTULA

Fire Burns... Lava Bites

2015 · 1h 23m · PG · Horror / Science Fiction / Thriller / TV Movie · IMDB TMDB

Volcanic eruptions in Los Angeles unleash a swarm of gigantic, lava-breathing tarantulas.

Quick Answer

What is Lavalantula about?

Lavalantula is a 2015 American horror, science fiction, and thriller film directed by Mike Mendez about a swarm of gigantic, lava-spewing tarantulas unleashed by volcanic eruptions in Los Angeles.

Programmer's Pick

If you ever wondered what would happen if a B-movie action hero squared off against lava-spewing spiders in the Hollywood Hills, Lavalantula is your answer. Mike Mendez gleefully unleashes mutant arachnids and a parade of genre nods, with Steve Guttenberg trading wisecracks for a shotgun. It’s creature feature mayhem, Los Angeles style.

— SassyFlix Programmer

Overview

A-list actor Colton West is having a rough day on set, but his Hollywood troubles quickly escalate when an earthquake rocks Los Angeles and volcanic eruptions begin spewing fiery chaos across the city. Things get truly out of hand when Colton witnesses a gigantic, fire-spitting spider crawl from a nearby car, forcing him to flee. Rushing home, he tells his wife Olivia about the monstrous arachnids, grabs a shotgun, and heads out to find his son Wyatt—who, unbeknownst to Colton, is out with friends just as disaster strikes. As volcanic bombs rain down and giant spiders overrun the streets, Colton becomes an unlikely action hero on a perilous mission to reunite his family amid the pandemonium.

Details & Specs

Director
Mike Mendez
Writers
Neil Elman, Ashley O'Neil, Mike Mendez
Release
2015
Runtime
1h 23m
Country
United States of America
Language
English

Why This Matters

Lavalantula connects to the larger Sharknado film series universe through Ian Ziering's cameo as Fin Shepard, exemplifying Syfy's approach to creating interconnected cult television films.
— SassyFlix Curator

Cast & Crew

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Director: Mike Mendez Writers: Neil Elman +2 more

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Why Cult

Lava-Breathing Spiders

Giant tarantulas erupt from volcanoes, spitting fire and melting everything in their path.

Hollywood Satire

An A-list actor battles monsters and industry egos, blending creature feature chaos with showbiz parody.

Creature Feature Mayhem

A swarm of mutant spiders brings classic B-movie thrills and practical monster effects to Los Angeles.

Family in Jeopardy

Colton West’s desperate quest to rescue his loved ones adds personal stakes to the citywide destruction.

Scene Gallery

Threat File

Trigger

Volcanic eruptions in Los Angeles

Threat

Giant, lava-breathing tarantulas

Effect

Fire, chaos, and deadly spider attacks across the city

Setting

Los Angeles

Questions from the Vault

When was Lavalantula released? +

Lavalantula was released in 2015.

Who directed Lavalantula? +

Lavalantula was directed by Mike Mendez.

How long is Lavalantula? +

Lavalantula has a runtime of 83 minutes.

What genre is Lavalantula? +

Lavalantula is a horror, science fiction, thriller, and TV movie.

Where can I watch Lavalantula? +

Lavalantula is available to watch on SassyFlix.

Trailers & Clips