The Lair of the White Worm

The Lair of the White Worm

1988

Director- Ken Russell

Cast- Amanda Donohoe, Hugh Grant, Catherine Oxenberg, Peter Capaldi, Sammi Davis, Stratford Johns, Paul Brooke

           

 

Amanda Donohe plays Lady Silvia, an English aristocrat and owner of a rural estate who is also the high priestess of Dionan, a long forgotten pagan god from a mythical past. Her god is manifested by a giant white serpent that lives underground and Lady Silvia periodically lures people to her estate and sacrifices them.

            Up against her is the newly dubbed Lord D’Ampton (Hugh Grant in a very early role), inheritor of the local manor and descendant of a legendary knight who supposedly slew a dragon. Aiding him is Angus, an archaeologist researching the local folklore (probably best known as one the Dr. Who’s). They get involved when two local girls (Catherine Oxenberg and Sammi Davis) are taken by the Lady Silvia.

            

   Though the film is not specifically satanic, there is an obvious Christian antagonism

with lots of sacrilegious imagery; nuns being raped, a snake eating a man on a cross, Lady

Silvia spitting venom on a crucifix. People familiar with Ken Russell’s more famous (or infamous work) The Devils won’t be surprised by this but it can be shocking if you’re not expecting it. There is also an obvious analogy between the serpent in the film and Satan, as evidenced when Lady Silvia mentions it being banished from Eden, or one of the victim’s being named Eve. In addition to the satanic motif, there is also an ongoing theme of vampirism, which is appropriate since it is based on a novel by Bram Stoker.

           

    Though the film is mostly serious, there are occasional tongue in cheek moments and it’s clear that both the director and lead actress were having fun pushing the serpent motif (such as a scene where Lady Silvia begins rhythmically gyrating to someone playing music, like a charmed snake).

          

  Amanda Donohoe is the main attraction here and she makes the film. Rather than the buxom sexpot that we usually see as the femme fatale, Amanda Donohoe is slim and sleek, almost androgynous. Her thin body makes her seem lithe and dangerous and perfectly fits a woman who doubles as a dangerous serpent.  Donohoe pushes her performance, becoming a truly hissable villain but being so charismatic that you can’t take your eyes off of her. Her make-up, when she transforms into her priestess mode, is beautiful; blue skin, yellow eyes, ridiculously long fangs. When out of that make up she looks less like a cleric and more like a fetish model for Skin Two; slicked hair, stiletto hills, latex and leather.

This movie has almost drifted into obscure cult status despite having some of the most memorable images you are likely to see. One of several good horror films made by the now defunct Vestron Pictures, it has finally gotten the Blu-ray treatment and is a worthy addition to any horror library. Fun and provocative, The Lair of the White Worm is entertaining, erotic and a little silly.