There’s something simply unnerving about the very title Camel Spiders, and the movie’s creepy DVD cover box only drives home that point.

A Roger Corman production, Camel Spiders unfolds in the Middle East, where an American military patrol headed up by Captain Sturges (Brian Krause) is ambushed by insurgents. Outgunned and seemingly doomed, the unit is given an unexpected reprieve when their attackers are suddenly hauled off by what a native liaison calls “the devils of the sand.” When Sturges returns Stateside with the body of one of his fallen comrades, he’s unaware that a few of the paralyzing-sting-happy creatures have stowed away with his cargo, and are now loose in a suburban Southwest environment totally unprepared for the type of threat they represent.

Directed by genre veteran Jim Wynorski, Camel Spiders is an ultra-modestly budgeted serving of gooey, pure-genre bread pudding. Nothing about the movie is particularly subtle or even interestingly shaded, from the characterizations and dialogue to the action and gore. Ergo, while the movie doesn’t really live up to the squirm-inducing prospects of its premise (think something along the line of Tremors), neither does it totally embarrass itself. Fans of schlocky low-budget fare will find momentary diversion here, which is Camel Spiders‘ only real aim.

Housed in a regular plastic Amaray case in turn stored in a complementary cardboard slipcover, Camel Spiders comes to DVD presented in 1.78:1 anamorphic widescreen with a Dolby digital 5.1 surround sound audio track and optional English and Spanish subtitles. Are there a plethora of engaging bonus features? No, no there are not. Are there any bonus features? Same answer, kid. To purchase the DVD via Amazon, click here; if Half is your thing, meanwhile, click here. C (Movie) D (Disc)