Product Description

Hugh Grant Amanda Donohoe and Catherine Oxenberg star in this mix of heart-stopping horror and campy humor. James D'Ampton (Grant) returns to his country castle in England. Legend has it that James' distant ancestor once slayed the local dragon-a monstrous white worm with a fondness for the sweet flesh of virgins. The young Lord dismisses the legend as folklore until archaeology student Angus Flint unearths a massive reptilian skull and the ancient worship site of a pagan snake god on James' property. When James' virtuous girlfriend Eve (Oxenburg) suddenly disappears he and Angus set out to investigate the foreboding cavern said to be the worm's lair where a centuries-old mystery begins to uncoil. Features: WIdeScreen version 2.0 Dolby Stereo Surround Scene AccessInteractive MenusSystem Requirements:Run Time: 93 MinFormat: DVD MOVIE Genre: HORROR Rating: R UPC: 012236125600 Manufacturer No: 12560

Product Details

• Amazon Sales Rank: #32532 in DVD
• Brand: LION'S GATE ENTERTAINMENT
• Released on: 2003-08-19
• Rating: R (Restricted)
• Aspect ratio: 1.77:1
• Formats: Anamorphic, Color, DVD-Video, Widescreen, NTSC
• Original language: English
• Number of discs: 1
• Dimensions: .25 pounds
• Running time: 93 minutes

Amazon.com
Wittily updated from one of Dracula author Bram Stoker's lesser-known horror novels, The Lair of the White Worm is a camp classic that only Ken Russell could have delivered. It's got all the perversity one expects from the bombastic director of Tommy and Altered States: sensible plotting, intelligent dialogue laced with double entendre, graphic imagery with Boschian intensity, and a mischievous disregard for good taste and decorum. In other words, it's heretically hilarious, especially when skeptical Lord D'Ampton (fresh-faced Hugh Grant, in one of his earliest films) begins to suspect that seductive neighbor Sylvia (Amanda Donohoe, game for anything) is connected to the local legend of a monstrous serpent that feeds on sacrificial virgins. Evidence mounts with the help of a local archaeologist (Peter Capaldi) and two endangered sisters (Catherine Oxenberg, Sammi Davis), and Russell infuses Stoker's grisly plot with his inimitable brand of blasphemy, including a gouged eyeball, a venom-splattered crucifix, Roman soldiers raping nuns (in a delirious hallucination sequence), and some of the funniest one-liners since Young Frankenstein. Prudes beware; everyone else…enjoy! --Jeff Shannon

From the Back Cover
Hugh Grant, Amanda Donohoe and Catherine Oxenberg star in this mix of heart-stopping horror and campy humor. James D'Ampton (Grant) returns to his country castle in England. Legend has it that James' distant ancestor once slayed the local dragon - a monstrous white worm with a fondness for the sweet flesh of virgins. The young Lord dismisses the legend as folklore, until archaeology student, Angus Flint, unearths a massive reptilian skull and the ancient worship site of a pagan snake god on James' property. When James' virtuous girlfriend, Eve (Oxenberg), suddenly disappears, he and Angus set out to investigate the foreboding cavern said to be the worm's lair, where a centuries-old mystery begins to uncoil.

Customer Reviews

Another Ken Russell great!
You have to know that if you rent or purchase a Ken Russell film do not expect sweet days in the daisy field. Ken's surrealistic style is sexual, humorous, and always in your face. This film is no different. I won't go into the plot, you can read other reviews for yourself. But this take on reptile/vampire seduction is a wonderfully fun ride on the Russell bus. In an age of dull gore, slasher mucus, Ken gives us a sexy, gothic nightmare thats unique, funny, and a treat for the senses. 5 stars again Ken. Brilliant gothic cinema.

What if Monty Python made a vampire movie ?
What if Monty Python made a vampire movie ?

That would make a good tag line to describe this film.

And while our baddie is not a vampire, but rather a
snake goddess, a snake goddess with really big fangs,
you get the idea.

Hugh Grant, early in his career plays a hair-brained
dare-do-all. Catherine Oxenberg is his dumb,
blond bombshell girlfriend (apologies to Ms.
Oxenberg). And some awesome british character
actors fill out the entourage.

And how does one go about fighting a snake goddess ?
Why with Hindu snake charmer music blasting from the
castle walls over loud speakers and an angry little
snake-hating mongoose of course!

This is not your typical Horror movie with axe and
chainsaw weilding psychopaths. But rather evil in the
disguise of shiney latex bodysuits, 6-inch stilettos
and black lace garter belts.

Filmed on location in merry old England amidst dreary
dairy farms and haunted castles our director
expertly assembles his cast of good guys and a really
bad, bad girl, played with a mesmerizing performance
by Amanda Donahoe. Remember her as Jim
Carrey's boss in Liar Liar ?

And lets not forget the eerie and sexy soundtrack
laced with synthisers and sexy saxaphone. And oh yes, the
occasional bagpipes! And a rousing song about the
dread Dampton worm by the local village rock band is very
entertaining.

Miss Donahoe steals the show from Mr. Grant and Ms.
Oxenberg. In one scene she literally slithers across
the stage thanks to some tricky camera work by
director Ken Russell.

And believe me Mr. Russell is full of tricks in this
Infernal Parade of Mischievous Mayhem. Half the
time instead of trying to scare you to death, the
director is out to make you laugh to death, and then gasp to
death at all the crazy chaos he delivers with dry
british humor making this a one of a kind romp.

Not for the faint of heart, the easily offended, the
traditional teen movie slasher fan or probably anyone
else for that matter !!!

You will either hate this film or be really, really
embarressed to tell your friends how much you love
this Masterpiece of Camp.Lair of the White Worm

Very Weird Story from Ken Russell
Words cannot describe my feelings when I first saw it about ten years ago. I have seen it again and I still don't know how I should write about it, but one thing is clear; the film is never boring. Ken Russell's "The Lair of the White Worm" is certainly "weird" and "campy," but those words are not strong enough to express my impression after watching this film, which is fascinating in more than one way.

The story opens with a curious skull found by archaeologist Angus (Peter Capaldi) in the ruins of a convent. It is only the beginning of a series of weird occurrences including the return of seductive, evil, venom-spitting Lady Sylvia Marsh (intentionally and delightfully over-the-top Amanda Donohoe), who plans to do something very bad and bizarre for a strange creature that lives deep in the cave.

Oh, and don't forget the legend of D'Ampton Worm (told in a catchy song) and Lord James D'Ampton (young Hugh Grant) who just inherited the estate, funny dialogue delivered in a deliberately theatrical fashion and weird hallucinations about Jesus Christ, a big white snake, nuns and Roman soldiers assaulting them. Roger Ebert in his review (two stars out of four) compared this film with Roger Corman's AIP films, but whatever people say about his B-movies, Corman was never called blasphemous. After all "White Worm" is directed by the person who did "Tommy," "Altered States," "Crimes of Passion," "Salome's Last Dance" and "Lady Chatterley."

Besides these extraordinary visions that you must see for yourself, Ken Russell should be praised for one thing, and that is, 95 per cent of the film's updated Bram Stoker story does NOT happen the original novel, usually regarded as the least successful one from the creator of Dracula. And try to find Gina McKee who is to co-star with Hugh Grant in "Notting Hill" 10 years later.