In the holy city of Mashhad, journalist Rahimi investigates the murders of sex workers by the “Spider Killer”—a man who believes he is on a divine mission to cleanse the city of sinners. As she tries to bring him to justice, support for his actions grows as many hail him a hero on a religious quest.

Zar Amir Ebrahimi won Best Actress in Cannes for her performance as a fearless reporter in Ali Abbasi’s gripping serial-killer procedural. Based on a shocking true story, Holy Spider prowls the Iranian night, refusing to pull any punches in its trenchant critiques of misogyny and hypocrisy.