ROTK - Warning: Dangerous Menu for Arachnophobes

 I suffered a rather traumatic night with many a creepy spider dream thanks to the lovely people who decided to make the Special Features Menu of Return of the King a tribute to her eight-legged freakiness.

It took a lot of mental preparation for me to handle the wonderfully scary Shelob's Lair when I saw ROTK at the theatres. I was so engrossed in the movie that I could not look away but needless to say there was some squirming and wriggling from me. In fact I'm pretty sure I bruised one of my friends with my fierce grip on her arm as I watched in terror.

However, I was unprepared for the random spider footage present on the Disk 2 menu. I think there was one part where they showed the shot of Shelob appearing from round the corner and raising her front legs at Frodo but worse was yet to come...

When Matt and I selected the 'Trilogy Preview', a full screen close-up of Shelob's hideous visage pounced out at me.

AAAAAARRRGGGGGHHHHHHHHH!!!!!!

Now I know what a SAN check actually feels like in real life.

I was a trembling wreck for the rest of the night.

I think what really creeps me about Shelob is not just that she is huge and ugly but that she is so damn sneaky. Giant spiders are terrifying enough but the idea of one that enjoys playing with you and sneaking around behind you - shudder. It gives me the heebie-jeebies.

No doubt the Special Edition Box Set of ROTK will include 3D glasses with extra spider footage.

Why don't they produce a DVD where all the Menu shots are of Shadowfax and Hobbits?