the first time i saw this film in the theatre at a foreign film festival and i think it intrigue and fascinate and the sensitive bi sexual artist . so very european and so very dutch . i recently rent it for a second viewing and could hardly keep from laugh at that overworked theme of the mad writer with a religious sexual orientation persecution complex . get a grip . this guy be a freeloader and live off of society . i suspect that the real reason he be have these fantasy nightmare about the spiderwoman be that his guilt complex be kick in after year of ignore mother advice about get into car ( and bed ) with stranger . not only be he make outrageous sum of ( probably taxfree ) loot for make up story ( lie guilt trip ) but he be too cheap to pay for a hair cut and hence he hustle the beauty salon owner . then he have the nerve to complain about the bill . but i also suspect the world have change alot since this film be make . on a serious note it be entertain to see some of jan de bont camera work and one of paul verhoeven earlier film . hmmm and maybe the world hasn not change so very much after all .