The Lair of the White Worm (1988)

User Rating:

5.5/10   

Director:

Ken Russell

Writers:

Ken Russell (screenplay)
Bram Stoker (novel)

Release Date:

21 October 1988 (USA)

Genre:

Horror | Thriller

Plot:

Scottish archaelogist Angus Flint discovers an odd skull amid the ruins of a convent which he is excavating...

Plot Keywords:

Worm | Lady | Cavern | Temple | Skull

Awards:

1 win & 3 nominations

Cast

Amanda Donohoe	...	Lady Sylvia Marsh
Hugh Grant	...	Lord James D'Ampton
Catherine Oxenberg	...	Eve Trent
Peter Capaldi	...	Angus Flint
Sammi Davis	...	Mary Trent
Stratford Johns	...	Peters
Paul Brooke	...	P.C. Erny
Imogen Claire	...	Dorothy Trent
Chris Pitt	...	Kevin
Gina McKee	...	Nurse Gladwell
Christopher Gable	...	Joe Trent
Lloyd Peters	...	Jesus Christ
Miranda Coe	...	Maids / Nuns
Linzi Drew	...	Maids / Nuns
Caron Anne Kelly	...	Maids / Nuns

Runtime:

93 min

Country:

UK | USA

Language:

English

Color:

Color (Technicolor)

Aspect Ratio:

1.85 : 1

Sound Mix:

Dolby

Certification:

Belgium:16 (video rating) | Australia:R | France:-12 | UK:18 | USA:R | West Germany:18 | South Korea:18 | Italy:VM14

Filming Locations:

Gaddesden Place, Hemel Hempstead, Hertfordshire, England, UK

Company:

White Lair

Trivia:

The skull of the pagan god Dionin used in the movie was constructed by adding sculpted sections to a real cow skull. The original teeth were pulled and replaced with fabricated ones to simulate the serpent look. Two skulls were fabricated for various scenes in the movie.

Goofs:

Audio/visual unsynchronized: Angus's fingers are not moving on the chanter of the bagpipes while he is luring P.C. Erny around the sundial.

Quotes:

Kevin: I'm not really into headbanging.
Lady Sylvia Marsh: Are you into any kind of banging?

Movie Connections:

Referenced in Comic Relief Does University Challenge (2005) (TV)

Soundtrack:

The D'Ampton Worm

A Hidden Classic worthy of Cult Status

I've now seen Ken Russell's adaptation of Bram Stoker's story about half a dozen times, each at different points in my life. This is one of those few movies that seems to age very well and get better with each viewing. Never a big fan of Russell, his over the top visual style seems right at home in this sometimes campy, sometimes scary, always entertaining horror film. But what makes this film stand far above others in its genre is the fact that it is in actuality a wicked black comedy. Every time I see it i pick up on something new that is in the background of a scene or some piece of dialogue I previously overlooked and I burst out laughing. The film features probably the single best line of any movie ever made, delivered with dead-pan foppishness by a not-yet famous Hugh Grant. "I believe we probably have another reptile on the premises." Watch it and you'll understand why it's so funny. It's all about context. While some may find many flaws in this production, I recommend just going with the flow and trusting Russel and his cast, who all also seem to be in on the joke. Amanda Donohoe as the evil serpentine priestess and Stratford Johns as Hugh Grant's butler are particularly on target with every line delivered. I'm going out on a limb and giving this a 10/10. In actuality it probably deserves and 8/10 at best. But it is one of my personal faves and seems to age like a fine wine.