Itsy Bitsy

Itsy Bitsy, a horror movie released in 2019, combines elements of a thrilling monster movie with an emotionally gripping family drama. The film, directed by Micah Gallo and starring stalwarts like Bruce Davison and Elizabeth Roberts, along with Denise Crosby, takes you on a bone-chilling journey that amalgamates terror and trauma.

In the opening sequences, a nurse named Kara (Elizabeth Roberts), struggling with drug addiction, moves with her two children Cambria (Chloe Perrin) and Jesse (Arman Darbo) to a peaceful and quite remote country estate. She has been appointed caretaker to Walter Clark (Bruce Davison), a world-renowned, but mysterious anthropologist coping with terminal illness. Kara hopes that this quiet, rural residence will provide her and her children a fresh start, far from the haunting demons of her past.

Meanwhile the aging patriarch, Walter Clark is a man who comes with his own baggage. The old man grieving over his lost wife and resigned to his impending death, is haunted, resulting in him becoming a recluse. His only connection to the outside world is Shelly, his ambitious yet secretive associate, played by Denise Crosby.

Itsy Bitsy starts out as a seemingly quiet Drama, firmly establishing the struggles and picturesque moments the newly relocated family goes through. Questions about how Kara will overcome her addiction and how she strives to keep her children safe, are well balanced with the everyday, mundane moments.

The plot takes a turn when it delves into the eerie history of an ancient artifact belonging to Walter. The artifact, accompanying a hidden mythology, is ominously connected to a breed of monstrous spiders that have been dormant for centuries. The artifact ultimately displeases the vengeful and extremely deadly arachnid goddess, which presents the viewers with a horrifying albeit fascinating concept that drives the plot forward.

As the movie progresses, this seemingly tranquil country residence soon turns into a place of unimaginable dread when the household is plagued by a grotesquely nightmarish, eight-legged terror. Kara, fighting her own monsters, must give everything up to protect her children from this bestial entity.

In terms of cinematography, the film is successful in creating a particularly creepy atmosphere. The CGI is not overdone, and the chilling rural surroundings add a layer of unsettling grimness to the story. Gallo shines when it comes to creating suspenseful scenes with the use of practical effects, impactful visuals making Itsy Bitsy stand out from other films of the same genre.

The performances are compelling, with Elizabeth Roberts portraying the struggles and horrors of a mother fighting to protect her children. Similarly, Davison encapsulates the desperate melancholy associated with terminal illness but maintains an air of wisdom and eccentricity about the artifacts. Meanwhile, Arman Darbo and Chloe Perrin portray their roles as the children authentically- imbued with innocence and vulnerability.

Perhaps the greatest strength of Itsy Bitsy is its successful marriage between intense familial drama and horrific suspense. While scary monsters and life-threatening situations are a well-treaded territory in the genre, here they are well interwoven within the plot, presenting a refreshingly captivating narrative.

Itsy Bitsy may not provide anything fundamentally new to the monster horror genre, but it excels in its storytelling and pacing, leading the viewers towards a satisfying climax. The film balances both themes equally- the family drama and the monster movie terror. Creepy, engaging, and thought-provoking, Itsy Bitsy is more than just your typical creature film. It’s a terrifying portrayal of a mother’s love, the exploration of mankind’s hubris, coupled with facing your inner-demons while surviving in an external, terrifying threat. The film proves to be an eerie, atmospheric, and ultimately satisfying experience for those fond of a fusion of drama and horror.