Demented low-budgeter from writer/director Jack Hill has Lon Chaney (who also sings the goofy title song) playing the caretaker to three sibling children (two girls and one large mentally handicapped boy) who suffer from their namesake disease the "Merrye Syndrome" that makes them degenrate backwards and makes them a tad mental. Along comes some distant relatives to try and pry their house away from them leading to all sorts of deranged goings-on.

With lots of black humour and some memorable moments (a messenger is caught in a window, covered with a fake spiderweb and chopped-up) this may be a little bit slow going but it's mostly watchable and has an alright finale.

B-movie favourite Sid Haig plays the slow brother and the two girls playing the sisters (Beverly Washburn and Jill Banner) do quite well in their roles. Hill comes up with some good creepy sexual tension when their uncle is tied up in a chair and while this is close to a ** rating it's just messed-up enough to warrant the extra half-star.

Directed By: Jack Hill.
Written By: Jack Hill.

Starring: Lon Chaney, Carol Ohmart, Quinn Redeker, Beverly Washburn.

aka: Spider Baby Or, The Maddest Story Ever Told.