LAVALANTULA

Cinemavixion Review

Mike Mendez's "Lavalantula" (2015) is a delightfully schlocky creature feature that leans heavily into its B-movie roots. Starring a surprisingly game Steve Guttenberg as a washed-up action star, the film pits a cast of familiar faces against a rather unique threat: lava-spewing tarantulas erupting from the earth during a massive earthquake in Los Angeles. The plot, while absurd, offers a clear objective: survival and rescue amidst the chaos. Guttenberg, alongside Nia Peeples and Patrick Renna, delivers performances that are self-aware enough to embrace the inherent silliness of the premise. While the film may not win awards for its special effects or profound storytelling, it succeeds admirably as an entertaining popcorn flick, offering a fun, albeit fiery, ride for fans of monster movies and campy action.