This classic science-fiction film has a compelling and literate script (from his novel) by Richard Matheson, sustained direction from Jack Arnold, excellent effects by Clifford Stine and really imaginative art direction by Alexander Golitzen and Robert Clatworthy. The fight between tiny Grant Williams and a spider is still a genuine chiller. The sequence of events builds relentlessly and never allows you to get comfortable. Sadly leading man Williams, so good here, never really reached stardom, and faded away like the shrinking man, dying of peritonitis at 54.