"Holy Spider" (2022), a noir crime drama directed by Ali Abbasi, draws inspiration from the true story of Saeed Hanaei, infamously known as Holy Spider, who unleashed terror upon Mashhad, Iran, by murdering sixteen female prostitutes between 2000 and 2001. The film introduces a fictional female journalist, portrayed by Arezoo Rahimi (Zar Amir Ebrahimi), embarking on a quest to investigate the case. However, as she inches closer to exposing Saeed's atrocities, the pursuit of justice becomes increasingly elusive, particularly as the murderer garners support from those who regard him as a hero. Abbasi asserts that his film serves as a critique of the pervasive misogyny and oppression entrenched in Iranian society. However, this paper posits that the film undermines its progressive message by examining how it portrays violence against women. Specifically, it examines the graphic and stylised cinematic depictions of Saeed's murders, suggesting that such depictions border on fetishisation. As a result, the film ultimately succumbs to the very misogyny it seeks to denounce, perpetuating patriarchal power dynamics and societal norms that dehumanise and victimise women. By reducing female victims to mere objects of violent fetishisation and voyeurism, the film inadvertently aligns itself with the oppressive structures it purportedly critiques.

Authors:
Zeynep Koçer Göztepe, Istanbul Kültür University, Turkey

About the Presenter(s)
Dr Zeynep Koçer Göztepe is a University Associate Professor/Senior Lecturer at Istanbul Kültür University in Turkey

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