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The Serpent and the Rainbow

  • 19881988
  • RR
  • 1h 38m
IMDb RATING
6.4/10
25K
YOUR RATING
  • Cast & crew
  • User reviews
  • Trivia
  • IMDbPro
Bill Pullman in The Serpent and the Rainbow (1988)
Trailer for this thriller directed by Wes Craven
Play trailer1:22
2 Videos
41 Photos
  • Fantasy
  • Horror

An anthropologist goes to Haiti after hearing rumors about a drug used by black magic practitioners to turn people into zombies.An anthropologist goes to Haiti after hearing rumors about a drug used by black magic practitioners to turn people into zombies.An anthropologist goes to Haiti after hearing rumors about a drug used by black magic practitioners to turn people into zombies.

IMDb RATING
6.4/10
25K
YOUR RATING
  • Director
    • Wes Craven
  • Writers
    • Wade Davis(inspired by the book)
    • Richard Maxwell(screenplay)
    • Adam Rodman(screenplay)
  • Stars
    • Bill Pullman
    • Cathy Tyson
    • Zakes Mokae
Top credits
  • Director
    • Wes Craven
  • Writers
    • Wade Davis(inspired by the book)
    • Richard Maxwell(screenplay)
    • Adam Rodman(screenplay)
  • Stars
    • Bill Pullman
    • Cathy Tyson
    • Zakes Mokae
  • See production, box office & company info
    • 116User reviews
    • 114Critic reviews
    • 64Metascore
  • See more at IMDbPro
    • Awards
      • 1 nomination

    Videos2

    The Serpent and the Rainbow
    Trailer 1:22
    The Serpent and the Rainbow
    Bill Pullman Tells Us the Scariest Co-Star He's Ever Worked With
    Video 2:26
    Bill Pullman Tells Us the Scariest Co-Star He's Ever Worked With

    Photos41

    The Serpent and the Rainbow (1988)
    The Serpent and the Rainbow (1988)
    The Serpent and the Rainbow (1988)
    The Serpent and the Rainbow (1988)
    The Serpent and the Rainbow (1988)
    The Serpent and the Rainbow (1988)
    The Serpent and the Rainbow (1988)
    The Serpent and the Rainbow (1988)
    The Serpent and the Rainbow (1988)
    Bill Pullman in The Serpent and the Rainbow (1988)
    The Serpent and the Rainbow (1988)
    Bill Pullman and Cathy Tyson in The Serpent and the Rainbow (1988)

    Top cast

    Edit
    Bill Pullman
    Bill Pullman
    • Dennis Alanas Dennis Alan
    Cathy Tyson
    Cathy Tyson
    • Marielle Duchampas Marielle Duchamp
    Zakes Mokae
    Zakes Mokae
    • Dargent Peytraudas Dargent Peytraud
    Paul Winfield
    Paul Winfield
    • Lucien Celineas Lucien Celine
    Brent Jennings
    Brent Jennings
    • Louis Mozartas Louis Mozart
    Conrad Roberts
    Conrad Roberts
    • Christopheas Christophe
    Badja Djola
    Badja Djola
    • Gastonas Gaston
    Theresa Merritt
    Theresa Merritt
    • Simoneas Simone
    Michael Gough
    Michael Gough
    • Schoonbacheras Schoonbacher
    Paul Guilfoyle
    Paul Guilfoyle
    • Andrew Cassedyas Andrew Cassedy
    Dey Young
    Dey Young
    • Mrs. Cassedyas Mrs. Cassedy
    Aleta Mitchell
    • Celestineas Celestine
    William Newman
    William Newman
    • French Missionary Doctoras French Missionary Doctor
    Jaime Pina Gautier
    • Julioas Julio
    • (as Jaime Piña Gautier)
    Evencio Mosquera Slaco
    • Old Shamanas Old Shaman
    Kimberleigh Aarn
    • Margriteas Margrite
    • (as Kimberleigh Burroughs)
    Philogen Thomas
    • Priestas Priest
    Ana Rosa Smith Avila
    • Mulatto Nurseas Mulatto Nurse
    • Director
      • Wes Craven
    • Writers
      • Wade Davis(inspired by the book)
      • Richard Maxwell(screenplay)
      • Adam Rodman(screenplay)
    • Production, box office & more at IMDbPro
    • All cast & crew

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    Storyline

    Edit
    In 1985, after a successful research in Amazonas, Dr. Dennis Alan from Harvard is invited by the president of a Boston pharmaceutics industry, Andrew Cassedy, to travel to Haiti to investigate the case of a man named Christophe that died in 1978 and has apparently returned to life. Andrew wants samples of the voodoo drug that was used in Christophe to be tested with the intention of producing a powerful anesthetic. Dr. Alan travels to meet Dr. Marielle Duchamp that is treating Christophe and arrives in Haiti in a period of revolution. Soon Alan is threatened by the chief of the feared Tonton Macuse Dargent Peytraud, who is a torturer and powerful witch. Alan learns that death is not the end in the beginning of his journey to hell. —Claudio Carvalho, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil
    • haiti
    • voodoo
    • haitian voodoo
    • ritual
    • surrealism
    • 124 more
    • Plot summary
    • Add synopsis
    • Taglines
      • Don't bury me...I'm not dead!
    • Genres
      • Fantasy
      • Horror
    • Certificate
      • R
    • Parents guide

    Did you know

    Edit
    • Trivia
      Due to political strife and civil turmoil in Haiti during the production, the local government informed the film crew that they could not guarantee their safety for the remainder of the shoot. The crew subsequently relocated to nearby Dominican Republic to complete filming.
    • Goofs
      The necklace Lucien puts on Dennis' neck before he got poisoned changes the positions between shots. However, in a lower position from back view, higher position from front view.
    • Quotes

      Dennis Alan: Don't let them bury me! I'm not dead!

    • Crazy credits
      [Opening card] In the legends of voodoo the Serpent is a symbol of Earth. The Rainbow is a symbol of Heaven. Between the two, all creatures must live and die. But because he has a soul Man can be trapped in a terrible place Where death is only the beginning. The following is inspired by a true story.
    • Alternate versions
      UK video and DVD versions are cut by 5 seconds by the BBFC to remove shots of cock-fighting (illegal animal cruelty).
    • Connections
      Featured in At the Movies: Shoot to Kill/The Serpent and the Rainbow/She's Having a Baby/The Unbearable Lightness of Being/School Daze (1988)
    • Soundtracks
      Madame Marcel
      Performed by Le Roi Coupe Cloue
      Courtesy of Chancy Records

    User reviews116

    Review
    Top review
    9/10
    Zombies in modern times, would you expect the movie to be good?
    Much to my surprise, this film was actually an excellent horror flick, one that I plan to watch again some day. I am glad a friend of mine recommended the movie to me, I am just hoping others will find the time to look into it.

    Even more, if the story actually is based on a "true story", I will shudder at the thought of it...
    helpful•32
    14
    • sonofhades
    • Jul 19, 2001

    FAQ1

    • What are the differences between the old British BBFC 18 Version and the Uncensored Version?

    Details

    Edit
    • Release date
      • February 5, 1988 (United States)
    • Country of origin
      • United States
    • Languages
      • English
      • French
      • Spanish
    • Also known as
      • Zmija i duga
    • Filming locations
      • Santo Domingo, Dominican Republic
    • Production company
      • Universal Pictures
    • See more company credits at IMDbPro

    Box office

    Edit
    • Budget
      • $7,000,000 (estimated)
    • Gross US & Canada
      • $19,595,031
    • Opening weekend US & Canada
      • $5,848,700
      • Feb 7, 1988
    • Gross worldwide
      • $19,595,031
    See detailed box office info on IMDbPro

    Technical specs

    Edit
    • Runtime
      1 hour 38 minutes
    • Color
      • Color
    • Sound mix
      • Dolby Stereo
    • Aspect ratio
      • 1.85 : 1

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