Spider

Date: 2002
Director: David Cronenberg
Production Company: Catherine Bailey Ltd, Grosvenor Park Productions, Davis Films

Stars: Ralph Fiennes, Lynn Redgrave, Miranda Richardson, Bradley Hall, John Neville
Location(s): London, Berkshire

Region(s): ,

Storyline:

A mentally disturbed man takes up residence in a halfway house where he struggles to piece together fragments of his traumatic past.

Additional Information:

Page compiled by Steve Randall

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  • 'Now' required

Dennis Cleg (Ralph Fiennes) arrives at Waterloo Station, here played by St. Pancras Station, N1.

Clutching an address on a sheet of paper he walks past a gas holder in the Kennington Oval area. Vauxhall Street, possibly?

Back in my researching days for London Film Location Guide, I came across Pegasus Place, SE11, looking west with Kilner House on the left. SJ

Searching for Pegge Street, he walks past derelict buildings. Oval Mansions, Kennington, SE11. The bricked-up state at time of filming reflected the recent occupation by squatters before being sold to the council for conversion to apartments.

The apartments today. Blue bricks removed and made habitable again.

Dennis reaches the film's Pegge Street, in reality Amelia Street, SE17, on the Pullens Estate.

Amelia Street today.

Mrs Wilkinson (Lynn Redgrave) opens the door to Number 71. This is the entrance to 212-226 Amelia Street SE17.

The door was open when I arrived.

Dennis has been sent here for reintegration following release from a mental institution. A gasometer has been placed behind him by the filmmakers.

Looking out today, there's no gasometer, just a children's playground.

To add to the bleakness the view from Dennis's room also features the gasometer.

The gasometer at Kennington Oval, which is being redeveloped.

Dennis takes a walk. Regent's Canal, near the junction of Andrews Road and Sheep Lane, E8.

A view dominated by old gasometer frames and Containerville which opened in 2015.

Dennis heads for allotments by a viaduct. The allotments at Eton Wick, Berkshire.

The back path by the Eton Wick allotments. (SR)

Dennis visits the site of a traumatic event from his childhood. The allotments at Eton Wick are adjacent to a viaduct carrying the branch line from Slough into Windsor station.

No fenced paths between allotments today, so one cannot be sure of the exact location but this gives a general idea. (SR)

  • 'Now' required

Dennis is seen at the back of his childhood home. Production notes state that for the yard and back alley, a row of railway cottages in Acton was found, moulds were taken and shipped to the studios in Canada to replicate the buildings.

  • 'Now' required

Reliving his past, Dennis sees his father's bike in the back yard. The set at the Toronto studios.

Young Dennis (Bradley Hall) is sent to The Dog & Beggar to fetch his dad for dinner. This is the Crown & Sceptre, 92 Friendly Street, Deptford, SE8, which closed in 2007 and has been converted to residential use.

The ex-pub is now converted into flats.

Dennis's father Bill (Gabriel Byrne) cycles to a plumbing job. The corner of Fanshaw Street and Aske Street N1.

Minus attractive lamp-post, perhaps a prop. SJ

The job is at a block of flats. Aske House, Aske Street.

A gloomier day so no washing out to dry. SJ

Bill enters the building to mend a toilet. Here he meets Yvonne, a prostitute and asks her out. Aske House, Aske Street N1.

The tilt down reveals a new and shiny blue door, added in 2021. SJ

  • 'Now' required

Dennis is shown with fellow inmates in a working party from the psychiatric facility.

Bill walks out with Yvonne (Miranda Richardson). 11 Park Street, SE1.

The view today still shows the cockeyed bollard. (SR)

Bill and Yvonne walk by the canal as their relationship gets serious. Mare Street bridge, Regent's Canal, E8.

More detail to be seen in daylight.

  • 'Now' required

After murdering his wife, Bill takes Yvonne home to present to Dennis as his new mother. Goodhall Street, NW10.

Dennis finds the end of Kitchener Street where he lived as a boy. 11 Park Street, SE1.

The redevelopment on the right arrived in 2021. (SR)

The reverse POV shows shops at the corner in Park Street.

A very similar view was seen in Keep the Aspidistra Flying cap34. SJ

Dennis walks down the film's Kitchener Street. 33 Goodhall Street, NW10.

The view across the street 22 years later taken by Antony Blair.

Dennis looks at his old house where he took revenge for his mother's death. Goodhall Street, NW10, also seen in 'The Parole Officer' and 'Red Nose of Courage'.

Antony Blair provides the comparison.

The current occupant gives Dennis a funny look as she leaves the house. 29 Goodhall Street, NW10.

Outside number 29 by Antony Blair.

Dennis sits by the canal and stares. Regent's Canal, looking southeast.

Some rebuilding has taken place across the canal.

After threatening to attack Mrs Wilkinson, Dennis is taken back to the psychiatric hospital. A fellow resident (John Neville) looks on as he is driven away. 212-226 Amelia Street.

A safe place for pot plants.