DU Movie fanatics, I need a favor!

[zbdent]

I work in the mental health field, and a co-worker asked a movie question.

What movies are based on animal- or insect-related phobias?

The co-worker needed a list, and I thought that DU would be a great resource.

He had "Arachnaphobia", I said, "Well, As Good As It Gets was not animal-related, but still a phobia thing."

I also couldn't remember the recent (?) movie by Stephen King where it was based on one of his short novels about going into the sewers and confronting rats that got bigger and more demonic as you got deeper into the sewers.

Not sure if "Willard" and "Ben" were dealing with the actual phobias or not, I never actually saw them.

SO, I'm asking for your vast knowledge!

A little help?

[EstimatedProphet]

1. Eight-Legged Freaks

That one would probably fit the bill
Would scenes work? If so, Indiana Jones and the Temple of Doom

[nikatnyte]

2. Each Indiana Jones movie

has scenes about animal/insect phobias

Raiders of the Lost Ark -- snakes
Temple of Doom -- insects/roaches
The Last Crusade -- rats

[Phillycat]

3. Anaconda

[Worst Username Ever]

4. The S. King movie was based on a novella

"graveyard shift" is the S. King novella that movie is based off, I am not sure if the movie has the same title.

[On the Road]

5. "Anaconda" Would be Another

Not specifically about phobias, but drawing on fear of snakes. For that matter, the Jaws movies draw on fear of sharks. There's a fine line between a movie with a deadly animal and one concerning phobias about that animal.

Oh, and "Mimic" is a good one -- about a species of giant mantis-like insects in the NY subways.

There's also another class of sci-fi and horror films who have aliens or monsters that are created to trigger certain animal phobias. If an alien or monster is slimy, has fangs, antennae, or an insect-like face, it's designed to trigger primal fears of animals.

[makhno]

6. The Swarm

Another, somewhat crappy, insect movie is They Nest. I think it's made for TV or video and came out a couple of years ago.

Non-insect movies off the top of my head: Cujo, Alligator, Piranha, Graveyard Shift (based on the King story with the rats).

I'd throw in Alien and The Thing. Sure, the enemy isn't animal, but the movies play off the animal phobias.

[Wickerman]

7. The Birds

not exactly phobia, but might as well start with the master.

[AverageJoe]

8. The Deadly Mantis (self explanatory)

Them (about giant ants, I think)

[Skittles]

9. Jake's Apartment

I think that's what its title was - thousands of cockroaches. AAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAA.

[Dogmudgeon]

10. Mimic (and other Bug Operas)

I know it's already been listed, but it's a much under-rated movie, and is one of the few that actually had me scared. Plus, if you're a straight guy who's into "geek girls", it has Mira Sorvino in it. (Whatever your sexual proclivity, she always turns in an excellent performance.) It's probably the best insect-phobia movie made.

The Alien franchise was significantly based on insect phobias, but the alien creatures aren't actually insects; they're more insectoid.

Starship Troopers (book and movie) is about the Earth's first interplanetary battle with intelligent insectoids.

The TV program Space: Above And Beyond also dealt with the first interplentary war with insectoids. Although Fox cut it off after 1 1/2 seasons, it was one of the best S-F series ever.

Them is a 1950s S-F thriller about giant ants created by nuclear testing.

There is a scene in one of Ray Harryhausen's movies about giant bees, and some victims escaping from the hive.

The Swarm was an Irwin Allen movie made when the Killer Bees scare was in the news in the 1970s.

There was also a B movie about killer wasps.

I'm sure I'm missing some.

--bkl

[zbdent]

11. Thanks to all - but I don't think the answers really fit the need

I will pass them on to my co-worker, though, with your blessings and my eternal gratitude.

I think he's looking more for a story with the actual phobia being a key, not just playing on a general, unstated phobia.

[Swede]

12. Cynophobia--dogs or rabies

Cujo would fit that one.
Selachophobia--sharks Jaws