Cuando tejen las arañas

Cuando tejen las arañas centers on a young woman who returns to her family roots to uncover the mystery behind her father's murder. As she investigates a tangled past, she meets powerful relatives, hidden motives, and a web of desire she never expected. What starts as a straightforward quest for truth gradually pulls her into a complicated relationship that tests loyalties and reshapes her sense of self. The film blends noir atmosphere with intimate drama, exploring how truth can corrode trust, how control can hide in plain sight, and what a person will sacrifice to learn the real story behind a family secret. Its tone shifts toward confrontation as loyalties fracture and secrets emerge.

Directed by Roberto Gavaldón from a script by Vicente Leñero, this 1979 drama is based on Leñero's intense concept. The ensemble features Alma Muriel, Angélica Chain, Raquel Olmedo, Carlos Piñar, and Adriana Page as Lorena, the model. The production sits in the era's moodier noir style.

Box office data for Cuando tejen las arañas is not readily available. Box office data remains scarce, reflecting limited distribution. Given its age and limited release, worldwide grosses are not documented in mainstream sources.

Given its obscurity, the film has a narrow cultural footprint. It’s often grouped with late 70s Mexican thrillers that probe power in intimate bonds rather than epic action. Fans of Alma Muriel recall the lean, unsettling mood, while scholars regard it as a cautious step toward gendered desire on screen.

Critical reception was mixed, with praise for atmosphere and performances, and critique of its explicit themes. The film centers on truth, family loyalties, coercion, and sexual power dynamics, raising questions about consent and identity. The tone blends suspense with melodrama, inviting viewers to weigh what is discovered against what remains hidden. Its provocative edge lingers after the credits for some.