“Spiderhole” is a down-and-dirty Irish horror film about four good looking students who take a page from the Occupy movement and squat in an abandoned building in lieu of paying rent.

“It’s unlawful, but not illegal,” says one of the great unwashed.

Unlawful, illegal… whatever. In a movie with a title like “Spiderhole” it’s entirely possible that something unpleasant is going to happen, and sure enough after some getting-to-know-you-scenes—ie: sex—they soon find themselves trapped, locked in.

One-by-one they disappear, the victim of a crazed surgeon who can’t wait to try out his new scalpels and pliers on them.

“Spiderhole” is a distant cousin to the “Saw” and “Hostel” movies. It wants to play on the murderous madman storylines that made those movies resonate with audiences, but is undone by a contrived plot and a lack of humor.

“Saw” and “Hostel” both took gleeful delight in the horrors they presented and that was part of the fun of those movies. “Spiderhole,” despite some good atmosphere and a few appropriately nasty moments, could have used a bit more tongue-and-cheek.

Still, for fans that miss the “Saw” franchise, this one might fit the bill.

Tags: 2 Stars, Horror