After more than 30 years "The Giant Spider Invasion" is making a return to Central Wisconsin. An old Volkswagen Beetle was transformed from compact car to man eating arachnid as one of two main props used during the production directed by Bill Rebane. The film is one of the top 50 grossing films from 19-75 and has grossed 22 million dollars from a 300,000 dollar budget.

A Gleason resident, William Dexter says, "I think that they had 6 kids in the front to run the legs and then the driver."

The plot of the film focused on spiders that come to earth small, and grew to a size that would not only scare, but traumatize poor little miss muffet. The arachnid threat soon advanced on downtown merrill but was fortunately stopped.

Lori stine, another Gleason resident and extra in the film says, "When i was in Merrill, when they did it, they shut down the street, they filled it, everybody filled the streets"

"When they told you to scream there was screaming, let me tell you, it was just great to be a part of"

The film has turned into a cult hit and was even featured in an episode of mystery science theater 3000. Local residents still remember the days of filming and are surprised by what it has turned into.

"Well at the time we kind of laughed about it but its turned out to be a cult movie, i mean it is still going strong," Dexter says.

Stine adds, "it was crazy, at the time we had no idea it would become, such, a cult thing, the young kids watch it in college"

The only remnants of one of the props is the frame, which is sitting on highway 17, outside the living room. Lori Stine and Chris Hill have taken on the task of refurbishing the stationary spider as an attraction outside there business to help the area remember the part it played in cinema history.

"We plan to make it a total realistic spectacle, so when people drive by they think there is this real huge spider there," Stine says.

The film's director Rebane has one hope for all of those that were involved with the production.

"The only thing i can say is that i hope everyone had fun," he says.

The giant props are being reconstructed as part of a film festival that is being put on at merrill's cosmo theater on August 6th. They will be screening the giant spider invasion as well as showing locally produced videos.