The Snow Spider (1988): cast, story & where to watch
1988 · Film · ★ 9.5
Released in 1988, The Snow Spider is a fantasy film directed by Pennant Roberts, running about 95 minutes.
What it’s about. On his ninth birthday, young Gwyn (Osian Roberts), who lives on a remote hill farm in Wales, receives five strange gifts from his grandmother (Siân Phillips): a piece of seaweed, a yellow scarf, a tin whistle, a metal brooch and a small broken horse. Gwyn offers the brooch to the wind and receives back a tiny silvery spider - Arianwen, the snow spider - confirming that, as his grandmother had already guessed, he has inherited magical powers from his Celtic ancestor Gwydyon, a powerful magician whose exploits are described in the fourth book ("Math Son of Mathonwy") of the Mabinogion. With the help of the snow spider, Gwyn embarks on adventures involving other worlds of snow and silver, as he attempts to solve the five-year-old mystery of his sister Beth's disappearance in a snow storm.
Who’s in it. The Snow Spider stars Siân Phillips as Nain Griffiths, Sharon Morgan as Gynis Griffiths, Robert Blythe as Ivor Griffiths and Osian Roberts as Gwyn Griffiths, among others.
How it landed. With an audience score of 9.5/10, The Snow Spider sits among the best-reviewed titles in the catalogue.
Where to watch. Streaming options change often. See the full, country-by-country breakdown on our where to watch The Snow Spider page.
If you liked it. Fans of The Snow Spider tend to enjoy The Lord of the Rings: The Return of the King, The Green Mile, Spirited Away and The Lord of the Rings: The Fellowship of the Ring.
Frequently asked
- Where can I watch The Snow Spider (1988)?
- Streaming, rental and purchase options for The Snow Spider change frequently. Check our where-to-watch page for the latest availability in your country.
- Is The Snow Spider worth watching?
- The Snow Spider holds an audience score of 9.5 out of 10, and is a strong pick if you enjoy fantasy. Most viewers rate it highly.
- Who stars in The Snow Spider?
- The Snow Spider stars Siân Phillips, Sharon Morgan, Robert Blythe, Osian Roberts and Gareth Pritchard.
- When was The Snow Spider released?
- The Snow Spider was released in 1988, with a runtime of about 95 minutes.