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HorrorComedy

The Lair of the White Worm

- Some legends really bite.

When an archaeologist uncovers a strange skull in a foreign land, the residents of a nearby town begin to disappear, leading to further inexplicable occurrences.

Release Date : 1988-09-21

Language :English

Adult : false

Status : Released

Production Company : White LairVestron Pictures

Production Country : United Kingdom

Alternative Titles :

Cast

Amanda Donohoe

Character Name : Lady Sylvia Marsh

Original Name : Amanda Donohoe

Gender : Female

Hugh Grant

Character Name : Lord James D'Ampton

Original Name : Hugh Grant

Gender : Male

Catherine Oxenberg

Character Name : Eve Trent

Original Name : Catherine Oxenberg

Gender : Female

Peter Capaldi

Character Name : Angus Flint

Original Name : Peter Capaldi

Gender : Male

Sammi Davis

Character Name : Mary Trent

Original Name : Sammi Davis

Gender : Female

Stratford Johns

Character Name : Peters

Original Name : Stratford Johns

Gender : Male

Paul Brooke

Character Name : P.C. Erny

Original Name : Paul Brooke

Gender : Male

Imogen Claire

Character Name : Dorothy Trent

Original Name : Imogen Claire

Gender : Female

Chris Pitt

Character Name : Kevin

Original Name : Chris Pitt

Gender : Male

Gina McKee

Character Name : Nurse Gladwell

Original Name : Gina McKee

Gender : Female

Christopher Gable

Character Name : Joe Trent

Original Name : Christopher Gable

Gender : Male

Lloyd Peters

Character Name : Jesus Christ

Original Name : Lloyd Peters

Gender : Male

Miranda Coe

Character Name : Maid / Nun

Original Name : Miranda Coe

Gender : Male

Linzi Drew

Character Name : Maid / Nun

Original Name : Linzi Drew

Gender : Female

Caron Anne Kelly

Character Name : Maid / Nun

Original Name : Caron Anne Kelly

Gender : Male

Fiona O'Connor

Character Name : Maid / Nun

Original Name : Fiona O'Connor

Gender : Male

Caroline Pope

Character Name : Maid / Nun

Original Name : Caroline Pope

Gender : Male

Elisha Scott

Character Name : Maid / Nun

Original Name : Elisha Scott

Gender : Male

Tina Shaw

Character Name : Maid / Nun

Original Name : Tina Shaw

Gender : Female

Paul Easom

Character Name : Soldier / Witchdoctor

Original Name : Paul Easom

Gender : Male

James Hicks

Character Name : Soldier / Witchdoctor

Original Name : James Hicks

Gender : Male

David Kiernan

Character Name : Soldier / Witchdoctor

Original Name : David Kiernan

Gender : Male

Matthew King

Character Name : Soldier / Witchdoctor

Original Name : Matthew King

Gender : Male

Ross Murray

Character Name : Soldier / Witchdoctor

Original Name : Ross Murray

Gender : Male

Andy Norman

Character Name : Soldier / Witchdoctor

Original Name : Andy Norman

Gender : Male

Bob Smith

Character Name : Soldier / Witchdoctor

Original Name : Bob Smith

Gender : Male

Jackie Russell

Character Name : Snakewoman

Original Name : Jackie Russell

Gender : Female

Ken Russell

Character Name : Police Radio (voice) (uncredited)

Original Name : Ken Russell

Gender : Male

Reviews

Wuchak

@Wuchak

2021-06-23

***Quirky, amusing, sometimes surreal horror about a snake cult in England*** Directed & written by Ken Russell and loosely based on Bram Stoker’s novel, “The Lair of the White Worm” (1988) chronicles events in England when a young archeologist (Peter Capaldi) uncovers a skull of some unknown beast near a bed & breakfast run by two sisters (Sammi Davis & Catherine Oxenberg). These three and Eve’s beau (Hugh Grant) soon stumble upon an ancient snake cult led by the eccentric Lady Sylvia Marsh (Amanda Donohoe), who dwells at a lavish estate nearby. The movie is a creative and entertaining creature feature reminiscent in tone & theme of “Squirm” (1976), but with Russell’s well-known offbeat excesses. The “creatures” are vampire-like snake people plus a gigantic serpent at the close, both of which recall the snake worshipers & giant serpents from “Conan the Barbarian” (1982). There are some iconic cinematic images, like Donohoe as the vampiric snake lady, not to mention a few well done horror scenes, like a snake woman who’s cut in half, but still wiggles with furious intent. The snake cult is diabolical in an anti-Christ way and I can see why some viewers might find the movie shocking and offensive, like the weird nun-raping flashback. Yet everything's so exaggerated and sometimes cheesy with a bit o' humor thrown in that the film can't be taken very seriously, which negates it from being shocking or disturbing. Fun in a horrific way? Yes. Disturbing? No. Also, keep in mind that horror villains/monsters are SUPPOSED to drip with ee-vil and be shocking. The question is, do they win or do the noble protagonists win? On the female front, the chief snake lady thinks she’s hotter than she really is as Donohoe amusingly hams it up. Meanwhile Catherine Oxenberg as Eve is a semi-highlight, particularly in the last act. The film runs 1 hour, 33 minutes and was shot entirely in England (Hertfordshire; Manifold Valley, Staffordshire; Peak District National Park; and Derbyshire). Thor's Cave in Manifold Valley is magnificent. GRADE: B-