IMDb RATING
5.8/10
3.2K
YOUR RATING
Terrorists in the process of kidnapping a child get trapped in a house with an extremely deadly snake.Terrorists in the process of kidnapping a child get trapped in a house with an extremely deadly snake.Terrorists in the process of kidnapping a child get trapped in a house with an extremely deadly snake.
- Awards
- 1 nomination
- Directors
- Piers Haggard
- Tobe Hooper(replaced by Piers Haggard) (uncredited)
- Writers
- All cast & crew
- Production, box office & more at IMDbPro
Storyline
Did you know
- TriviaDirector Piers Haggard said in a 2003 interview for 'Fangoria' magazine, "I took over that at very short notice. Tobe Hooper had been directing it and they had stopped for whatever reason. It hadn't been working. I did see some of his stuff and it didn't look particularly good plus he also had some sort of nervous breakdown or something. So anyway they stopped shooting and offered it to me. Unfortunately I had commitments, I had some commercials to shoot. But anyway I took it over with barely ten days of preparation - which shows. It doesn't become my picture, it's a bit inbetween . . . [actor Oliver Reed was] scary at first because he was always testing you all the time. Difficult but not as difficult as Klaus Kinski. Because Oliver [Reed] actually had a sense of humour. I was rather fond of him; he could be tricky but he was quite warm really. He just played games and was rather macho and so on. Klaus Kinski was very cold. The main problem with the film was that the two didn't get on and they fought like cats. Kinski of course is a fabulous film actor and he's good in the part, the part suits him very well. They were both well cast but it was a very unhappy film. I think Klaus was the problem but then Oliver spent half the movie just trying to rub him up, pulling his leg all the way. There were shouting matches because Oliver just wouldn't let up. None of this is about art. All the things that you're trying to concentrate on tend to slip. So it was not a happy period."
- GoofsWhen Dr. Stowe is told to get up by Kinski, she anticipates the terrorist's action by grabbing the scarf before Kinski wraps her hand in it.
- Quotes
Commander William Bulloch: Look, could you tell me just how dangerous very dangerous is?
Dr. Marion Stowe: The most dangerous snake in the whole world, that dangerous.
- Crazy creditsThe Producers wish to extend their thanks to David Ball, overseer of reptiles at London Zoo, without whose skill and courage in the handling of the deadly Black Mamba, this film could not have been made.
- ConnectionsFeatured in Sneak Previews: Personal Best/The Border/Venom/Zoot Suit (1982)
Featured review
The Cast Makes This a Must See
Venom (1981)
*** (out of 4)
An excellent cast highlights this crime picture that throws in some horror elements for a grand entertainment. A butler (Oliver Reed) and maid (Susan George) agree to help a terrorist (Klaus Kinski) kidnap a young boy who belongs to a rich bounty hunter (Sterling Haden). Their plans don't work out too well but it takes an even deadlier turn when they're all held up inside the house with a black mamba on the loose.
I can't comment on what it was like watching VENOM back when it was released in 1981 but when you're viewing it today you can't help but watch it with your brain rolling as well as your eyes glued to the screen. I mean, check out the cast of this thing! I'm really not sure how everything came together but I must say that this little crime picture actually manages to have quite the bite as far as entertainment goes.
I will say that there are some major flaws with the picture including the fact that this "terrorist" group has to be the cheapest and most pathetic from any movie that I recall. I mean, their entire plan is just crazy and stupid and the way the situation unfolds is just somewhat embarrassing. With that said, the film certainly picks up once the criminals and their hostages are trapped inside with the police on the outside and a deadly snake inside.
The entire snake aspect seems to have been thrown in to try and sell this off as a horror picture but it works. I'm personally scared of snakes so this here helped add to the uneasy factor I had watching it. The point of view snake attacks are clever in their own way and there's no question that the violent reaction of the humans adds some entertainment value.
It should go without saying but what keeps VENOM so entertaining is the wonderful cast. I mean, you've got Kinski and Reed in the same movie! Having them as your bad guys just makes the film worth watching. Throw in Susan George from STRAW DOGS and it's even better. Her part is rather forgettable but it's still fun watching her. Throw in Nicol Williamson as the lead officer, Sarah Miles as a snake expert and then Hayden as the grandfather and you've really got a stellar cast.
VENOM was originally to be directed by Tobe Hooper but he was fired (or quit) after a couple day's filming. WHo knows how it would have turned out in his hands but as it stands, this is a fast and fun movie.
*** (out of 4)
An excellent cast highlights this crime picture that throws in some horror elements for a grand entertainment. A butler (Oliver Reed) and maid (Susan George) agree to help a terrorist (Klaus Kinski) kidnap a young boy who belongs to a rich bounty hunter (Sterling Haden). Their plans don't work out too well but it takes an even deadlier turn when they're all held up inside the house with a black mamba on the loose.
I can't comment on what it was like watching VENOM back when it was released in 1981 but when you're viewing it today you can't help but watch it with your brain rolling as well as your eyes glued to the screen. I mean, check out the cast of this thing! I'm really not sure how everything came together but I must say that this little crime picture actually manages to have quite the bite as far as entertainment goes.
I will say that there are some major flaws with the picture including the fact that this "terrorist" group has to be the cheapest and most pathetic from any movie that I recall. I mean, their entire plan is just crazy and stupid and the way the situation unfolds is just somewhat embarrassing. With that said, the film certainly picks up once the criminals and their hostages are trapped inside with the police on the outside and a deadly snake inside.
The entire snake aspect seems to have been thrown in to try and sell this off as a horror picture but it works. I'm personally scared of snakes so this here helped add to the uneasy factor I had watching it. The point of view snake attacks are clever in their own way and there's no question that the violent reaction of the humans adds some entertainment value.
It should go without saying but what keeps VENOM so entertaining is the wonderful cast. I mean, you've got Kinski and Reed in the same movie! Having them as your bad guys just makes the film worth watching. Throw in Susan George from STRAW DOGS and it's even better. Her part is rather forgettable but it's still fun watching her. Throw in Nicol Williamson as the lead officer, Sarah Miles as a snake expert and then Hayden as the grandfather and you've really got a stellar cast.
VENOM was originally to be directed by Tobe Hooper but he was fired (or quit) after a couple day's filming. WHo knows how it would have turned out in his hands but as it stands, this is a fast and fun movie.
helpful•51
- Michael_Elliott
- Dec 19, 2017
- How long is Venom?Powered by Alexa
Details
Box office
- Gross US & Canada
- $5,229,643
- Gross worldwide
- $5,229,643
- Runtime1 hour 32 minutes
- Sound mix
- Aspect ratio
- 1.85 : 1
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