Holy Spider is a 2022 crime thriller directed by Ali Abbasi, based on a true story. Set in the Iranian city of Mashhad, the film follows a fictionalized account of Rahimi, a determined female journalist investigating a series of murders targeting sex workers. The murders are committed by Saeed Hanaei, a man who believes he is on a holy mission to "cleanse" the city of immorality.
The movie is gripping and atmospheric, portraying not only the psychological depth of the killer but also the societal dynamics that allowed his crimes to continue for so long. Abbasi uses the story as a lens to critique systemic misogyny, moral hypocrisy, and the judicial system in Iran. The movie is inspired by the real-life case of Saeed Hanaei, a construction worker from Mashhad, Iran, who became known as the "Spider Killer." Between 2000 and 2001, Hanaei murdered at least 16 sex workers in Mashhad. He lured his victims to secluded areas under false pretenses, strangled them, and discarded their bodies in public places, often wrapped in their own veils.For this project, I created a CD package design based on Holy Spider and the true story behind it. I designed a CD, an info card, and a box to explore the themes of the film and its connection to the Spider Killer case.
