Year: 1988
Director: Ken Russell
Producers: Ken Russell
Starring: Hugh Grant, Peter Capaldi, Amanda Donohoe, Catherine Oxenberg, Sammi Davis, and Stratford Johns.
“The Lair of the White Worm” is a 1988 horror comedy directed by Ken Russell. Loosely based on the novel of the same name written by Bram Stroker, the film stars Peter Capaldi, Amanda Donohoe, and Hugh Grant who would go on to star in big films such as “About a Boy” “For Weddings and a Funeral” and more recently “Paddington 2”.
The plot of the film is one I find unique, centering around a farm owned by Eve and Mary Trent played by Catherine Oxenberg and Sammi Davis until Angus Flint an archaeologist played by Peter Capaldi discovers a large skull belonging to a giant snake, but the movie refers it to as the D’Amptom worm, a mythical beast slain by the ancestor of Lord D’Ampton played by Hugh Grant.
It doesn’t take long before the villainess Lady Sylvia Marsh an immortal priestess to the snake god, Dionin played by Amanda Donohoe takes a keen interest in Eve and Angus hinting at the fact the D’Amptom worm may still be alive.
Being that this film is based on the novel of the same name by Bram Stroker many of us including myself are forgiven for believing that Lady Marsh and the other monsters in this movie are a type of vampire, they are not unfortunately. One of this movie’s biggest strengths however is its disturbing surrealist set pieces, this becomes evident when Eve starts hallucinating Jesus being crucified and encircled by a giant white serpent, the film can be campy at times which I feel adds to the charm giving it almost and Sam Rami Evil Dead vibes which I enjoy.
In conclusion “The Lair of the White Worm” isn’t a perfect movie by any stretch of the imagination but if you’re looking for a campy, violent, surrealist, horror movie with a sexy female antagonist I say that this movie is right up your alley.