The Serpent And The Rainbow

Starring:Bill Pullman, Cathy Tyson, Zakes Mokae, Paul Winfield, Brent Jennings, Conrad Roberts, Badja Djola, Theresa Merritt, Michael Gough, Paul Guilfoyle (II), Dey Young, Aleta Mitchell, William Newman, Jaime Pina Gautier, Evencio Mosquera Slaco, Kimberleigh Burroughs, Philogen Thomas, Ana Rosa Smith Avila, Francis Guinan, Sally-Anne Munn
Director: Wes Craven
Studio: Universal Studios
Product Type: DVD

Amazon.com

Eight years before he scored a phenomenal hit with Scream, horror master Wes Craven made a worthy effort to "legitimize" horror with this chilling supernatural thriller, based on the best-selling book by Wade Davis. More ambitious than most horror films, this one allowed Craven to generate compelling plausibility with the fact-based story of a Harvard researcher (Bill Pullman) who travels to Haiti to procure a secret voodoo powder that places people into a state of simulated death. His investigation into the hidden world of black magic grows increasingly dangerous until he's caught in a living nightmare--a potentially deadly predicament that inspired the film's advertising tag line: "Don't bury me... I'm not dead!" Craven pays particular attention to authentic details of Haitian society and the role voodoo plays in Haitian culture, and the film gains additional atmosphere from location shooting in Haiti and the Dominican Republic. Craven would, of course, continue to thrive by making more "conventional" horror films including Scream, but this remains a fascinating departure for one of the genre's most celebrated directors. - -Jeff Shannon

Customer Reviews:

[2.5]--How can I not forget this movie, it so desperately needs a makeover.........2007-04-20

..and being that this movie is close to twenty years old makes it possible. The book passed through several hands as a film property and eventually ended up in those of Wes Craven. His name was most certainly at the forefront of horror directors. The result: ugly stereotypes, anorexic socio-political allegory, scant scares, and Bill Pullman - that's "The Serpent and the Rainbow" in a nutshell. Based on Wade Davis' novel, Wes Craven's lame documentary-flavored horror story follows anthropologist Dennis Alan (Pullman) as he searches revolutionary Haiti for a mystery drug that reportedly raises the dead. With the help of a local psychiatric institution doctor (Mona Lisa's Cathy Tyson), Alan undergoes a crash coarse in the island's history, discovering a culture where 110 percent of the population practices voodoo, including an evil political leader (Zakes Mokae) who's using zombifying white powder as a means of silencing opponents. Imagery of people being buried alive is the film's calling card, and Craven handles his suffocating coffin-encased dream sequences with sufficient skill. Yet in every other respect, the film is either offensive or incompetent, from the sight of blacks behaving like superstitious witch doctors or the dance floor-gyrating possessed, to Pullman's unbearably overwrought performance as the altruistic Alan, to the persistently aggravating narration, which wants to function as helpful connective tissue between scenes but instead only provides a wealth of superfluous information that neither complements nor amplifies the already dull, pointless action.

I have seen this movie twice in my life and if its one thing "Serpent And The Rainbow" is, it's stylish. Filmed in my homeland, the movie is loaded with colorful scenery. There's tons of unforgettable religious imagery (due in no small part to the colorful nature of voodoo) as well as lots of great scenes in Haitian graveyards that stick in the brain. There's also tons of Craven-style shots (the nightmare sequences reminded me immensely of Cravens previous works) as well as some bits that came out rather nicely (the shot of a man inside the coffin being lowered into the ground). Performances are decent, especially Zakes Mokae, who plays Peytraud with subtly psychotic menace. Pullman is as wooden as ever (how does this guy keep his job?) delivering lines right from that invisible teleprompter hanging about six inches from his nose.

I also question the "based on a true story" factor: people tearing their own head off and tossing them isn't true to life. Hollywood, at times, loves to pick on voodoo given its "minority" status among the faiths and treat it a bit backwards. In reality Voodoo is not based on evil premises as is often portrayed, but instead has it's foundation in Catholicism. The Spirits that are such cornerstones of Voodoo are, in effect, angels with God and Jesus reigning supreme over all. And, there is a dark side. It is the dark side where the elements of control over others and evil show themselves, and this dark world of evil Voodoo is indeed scary. The trouble is, when making a movie with Voodoo elements it takes time and effort to explain the reality of the practice...and it is much easier to just rely on the frightening stereotypes instead. But in this film Craven explores voodoo on a rather scientific level. Although many of the events depicted are still mystic, they are always rational, and if they actually venture into the realms of the supernatural, Craven makes sure the viewer understands that voodoo has also very much to do with mental states and hallucinations inseparably embedded in the Haitian culture. This movie could have been so much better if Craven would have learned that the scariest things often have nothing to do with special effects but the root of all. Recommending this film probably wouldn't be very wise in my part but reading the book is highly beneficial.

Good, but could have been great........2007-04-11

Bill Pullman (you may know him from Independence Day) stars a Harvard Anthropologist who is sent to Haiti to investigate some of the holistic drugs and plants that the natives use. While in Haiti he is given a strange mixture that shows him his sacred animal and it guides him back to saftey after he has horrific visions. Once he returns to the States he is hired by a desperate drug company to return to Haiti and find a plant that is supposed to bring the dead back to life. When he returns to Haiti he is dragged into a web of voodoo rituals and rites that may engulf him forever...

The main problem I have with this film is the direction by Wes Craven. He hasn't quite grasped the fact that sometimes the scariest moments don't come from special effects. This movie should work, and it should work very well. It doesn't. Even though Craven was given a better than average screenplay to work from, from an even better novel, he messes up every chance he has to truly bring this film to the next level.

While better than your average horror film it could have been great. A classic even. Bill Pullman gives us a great performance as he usually does. If Craven did only one thing right with this film it is the atmosphere. He has created a truly bleak and harrowing atmosphere around the whole used up voodoo plotline. From the strange Amazon rainforest style music to the casting of the minor roles the atmosphere is pitch perfect for this film. As most everyone knows, Craven would go on to do great things in the genre (well at least succesful things) and make a name for himself as a horror master. This is evidence of the better things that would follow. While I have mixed feelings about it, you should check it out.

Uneven, but compelling.......2007-02-16

This film is a VERY loose adaptation of the non-fiction book of the same name. While the book was a work of serious scholarship, the film is, well, a Hollywood movie. Nothing wrong with that, of course, it's just that the book and film share a title and not much else. That said, the movie has more going for it than against it, and I would recommend it (but not for the kiddies). The greatest strength of the movie is the performance by Zakes Mokae as the sadistic chief of Haiti's not-so-secret police. It would take someone more eloquent than I to describe it. Just believe me when I tell you that you won't forget it anytime soon after. It's not often that I find myself grinding my teeth during a movie that I know is fiction, but this performance did just that. I understand Mr. Mokae lives in Nevada now. In the unlikely event that he should read this review, I wish to thank him for a splendid, if disturbing, performance. The cinematography is really quite good with some truly creepy scenes rendered, and the plot and dialog are fine. There are two factors that work against the film. The first is Bill Pullman, playing the Harvard researcher. I don't intend any offense towards Mr. Pullman nor his fans. However, he just doesn't seem right for so many of the parts in which he is cast, such as the President in Independence Day, and here. His overall demeanor just doesn't convey "Ph.D. field researcher". The other significant fault is the descent of the storyline into near ridiculous fantasy in the closing scenes. It's quite similar to The Abyss in this regard. Some reviewers seem to have issues with Eurocentrism and racial implications within the film. I personally didn't consider anything I saw out of order, but this is a very subjective area in my estimation, and others could very well see things differently. Overall, not a half-bad horror/fantasy film. 3.5 stars, maybe 4 if you're really in the mood for something like this.

Suspense / Intense.......2007-02-16

Although an old movie,unlike many,was before its time. It still carries a punch enhanced by spices of island mysticism.

The DVD Cover Sums It All Up.......2007-02-09

From what was a landmark study by ethnobiologist Wade Davis into the folk preparations in the creation of zombies and the belief system associated with Haitian voodoo came a Eurocentric mess of a movie with the same title that was originally released in 1988.

It was reported at the time that Davis only agreed to sell the rights of the book if Peter Weir was hired as the movie director and Mel Gibson would play the leading role (based on Davis). Neither person was ever involved in the movie project.

The DVD cover tells the story as presented by director Wes Craven; the movie strips the book of its exploration into the real history and customs of the religious practices unique to Haitian society and pounds away at the the evilness of voodoo and the destruction it can cause to the human psyche.

In the movie, the scientist is in search of a secret voodoo powder that places people in a simulated death. The setting is in a time of political revolution and the movie does touch upon authentic details of Haitian society. But the action degenerates into the overt racism of the horror genre that gets repeated over and over again; the darker the skin, the more evil the sin.

To save time and money, purchase the book and appreciate the solid research and writing by Davis & disregard the DVD.

The Wes Craven Collection (Shocker/The People Under The Stairs/The Serpent And The Rainbow)

Average customer rating:

great box set
Decent set, but devoid of extras

The Wes Craven Collection (Shocker/The People Under The Stairs/The Serpent And The Rainbow)
Starring: Wes Craven Collection
Manufacturer: Universal Studios
ProductGroup: DVD
Binding: DVD

General | Horror | Genres | DVD | Video

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( W ) | Titles | Features | DVD | Video

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The Last House on the Left
The Hills Have Eyes (2-Disc Edition)
Masters of Horror - Imprint
In the Mouth of Madness
The Nightmare on Elm Street Collection

ASIN: B0000AOX0I
Release Date: 2003-10-07

Customer Reviews:

great box set.......2005-02-26

a great box set
great premise to a great terrifing creator of amazing books ever read or made

People under the stairs: sick, funny, amusing, twisted, moving

the Serpent and the rainbow: sick twisted, funny, amazing, powerful, learn new insights

Shocker: funny at times, twisted, sick, powerful, moving, strange

all 3 movies have been seen at least 4 times each in my player and will be seen more

one offers psycho neighbors who butcher to feast with their crazy cruel dog

one offers complete lunacy into the world of voodoo and how far you really go into it when you want to get out

and the last offers trying to escape a supposedly dead convict who wants revenge for being fried but won't exactly get his way always

all 3 are shocking
and all 3 are deserving to be seen

Decent set, but devoid of extras.......2004-02-07

Collecting three films from horror maestro Wes Craven's Universal deal, this Wes Craven collection features Shocker, The People Under the Stairs, and The Serpent & The Rainbow. Shocker is a fun and over the top romp featuring The X-Files' Mitch Pileggi as a death row inmate whom acquires the ability to jump from person to person inhabiting their body. The People Under the Stairs finds Craven trying to rekindle a bit of the rawness of his earlier more barbaric films Last House on the Left and The Hills Have Eyes with a story involving two kids trapped in a house with a cannibalistic couple and an even creepier secret. The Serpent & The Rainbow finds Craven adapting the best selling book and tells the story of a researcher (Bill Pullman) looking to find the secrets of voodoo and ending up way, way over his head. The only extras to be found are for Shocker which features a trailer and a few production notes, other than that there is nothing. You'd figure for a box set there would be some exclusive extras thrown in or maybe even a commentary or two, but alas, there is nothing. All in all, The Wes Craven Collection is worth buying if your a hardcore Craven fan and don't already own all three films, but otherwise this is rental material.

Average customer rating:

[2.5]--How can I not forget this movie, it so desperately needs a makeover..
Good, but could have been great.
Uneven, but compelling
Suspense / Intense
The DVD Cover Sums It All Up

The Serpent and the Rainbow [Region 2]
Starring: Bill Pullman , Cathy Tyson , Zakes Mokae , Paul Winfield , and Brent Jennings
Director: Wes Craven
ProductGroup: DVD
Binding: DVD

General | Horror | Genres | DVD | Video

( S ) | Titles | Features | DVD | Video
Similar Items:

The Believers
Jacob's Ladder
The SERPENT AND THE RAINBOW
Angel Heart (Special Edition)
The People Under The Stairs

ASIN: B0001E5T9W

Amazon.com

Customer Reviews:

[2.5]--How can I not forget this movie, it so desperately needs a makeover.........2007-04-20

Good, but could have been great........2007-04-11

Uneven, but compelling.......2007-02-16

Suspense / Intense.......2007-02-16

Although an old movie,unlike many,was before its time. It still carries a punch enhanced by spices of island mysticism.

The DVD Cover Sums It All Up.......2007-02-09

Average customer rating:

[2.5]--How can I not forget this movie, it so desperately needs a makeover..
Good, but could have been great.
Uneven, but compelling
Suspense / Intense
The DVD Cover Sums It All Up

The Serpent and the Rainbow [Region 2]
Starring: Bill Pullman , Cathy Tyson , Zakes Mokae , Paul Winfield , and Brent Jennings
Director: Wes Craven
ProductGroup: DVD
Binding: DVD

General | Horror | Genres | DVD | Video

( S ) | Titles | Features | DVD | Video
Similar Items:

The Believers
Jacob's Ladder
The SERPENT AND THE RAINBOW
Angel Heart (Special Edition)
The People Under The Stairs

ASIN: B00005UWQR

Amazon.com

Customer Reviews:

[2.5]--How can I not forget this movie, it so desperately needs a makeover.........2007-04-20

Good, but could have been great........2007-04-11

Uneven, but compelling.......2007-02-16

Suspense / Intense.......2007-02-16

Although an old movie,unlike many,was before its time. It still carries a punch enhanced by spices of island mysticism.

The DVD Cover Sums It All Up.......2007-02-09

Average customer rating:

[2.5]--How can I not forget this movie, it so desperately needs a makeover..
Good, but could have been great.
Uneven, but compelling
Suspense / Intense
The DVD Cover Sums It All Up

The Serpent and the Rainbow
Starring: Bill Pullman , Cathy Tyson , Zakes Mokae , Paul Winfield , and Brent Jennings
Director: Wes Craven
Manufacturer: Universal Studios
ProductGroup: DVD
Binding: DVD

General | Horror | Genres | DVD | Video

General | Science Fiction & Fantasy | Genres | DVD | Video

DVDs Under $14.99 | Today's Deals in DVD | Special Features | DVD | Video

All Deals | Today's Deals in DVD | Special Features | DVD | Video

( S ) | Titles | Features | DVD | Video
Similar Items:

The Believers
Jacob's Ladder
The SERPENT AND THE RAINBOW
Angel Heart (Special Edition)
The People Under The Stairs

ASIN: 6305087466
Release Date: 1998-12-08

Amazon.com

Description

A Harvard anthropologist is sent to Haiti to retrieve a strange powder that is said to have the power to bring humans back from the dead. In his quest, the cynical scientist enters the rarely seen netherworld of walking zombies and ancient curses.

Customer Reviews:

[2.5]--How can I not forget this movie, it so desperately needs a makeover.........2007-04-20

Good, but could have been great........2007-04-11

Uneven, but compelling.......2007-02-16

Suspense / Intense.......2007-02-16

Although an old movie,unlike many,was before its time. It still carries a punch enhanced by spices of island mysticism.

The DVD Cover Sums It All Up.......2007-02-09

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