The Reptile (1966)

User Rating:

6.2/10   

Director:

John Gilling

Writer:

Anthony Hinds (writer)

Release Date:

6 April 1966 (USA)

Genre:

Horror

Tagline:

Half woman - half snake!

Plot:

When his brother Charles Spalding (David Baron) mysteriously dies, Harry Spalding (Ray Barrett) and...

Plot Keywords:

Village | Snake | Father Daughter Relationship | Curse | Death

Cast

Noel Willman	...	Dr. Franklyn
Jennifer Daniel	...	Valerie Spalding
Ray Barrett	...	Harry George Spalding
Jacqueline Pearce	...	Anna Franklyn
Michael Ripper	...	Tom Bailey
John Laurie	...	Mad Peter
Marne Maitland	...	The Malay
David Baron	...	Charles Edward Spalding
Charles Lloyd Pack	...	The Vicar
Harold Goldblatt	...	The Solicitor
George Woodbridge	...	Old Garnsey

Runtime:

Germany:86 min | USA:90 min | UK:91 min

Country:

UK

Language:

English

Color:

Color

Aspect Ratio:

1.85 : 1

Sound Mix:

Mono (RCA Sound Recording)

Certification:

Netherlands:16 (DVD rating) | Finland:(Banned) (1966) | Sweden:15 | UK:15 | USA:Unrated | West Germany:16

Filming Locations:

Bray Studios, Down Place, Oakley Green, Berkshire, England, UK

Company:

Hammer Film Productions

Trivia:

Filmed back-to-back with The Plague of the Zombies (1966), reusing many of the same sets, most noticeably the main village set on the backlot at Bray Studios.

Movie Connections:

Referenced in Quatermass and the Pit (1967)

One of the best Hammer films, Reptile is worth a look.

This film is one of the best period horror films of it's day. The costumes and sets are lavish and the acting is notable. The 'Reptile' itself is hinted at but not seen for most of the film, building suspense. It is a shame that the video box shows what the Reptile looks like, lessening the shock when you see it on the screen. The make up was very ahead of its time, much more realistic than other films of its day. The only problem about the film is that it plays like a mystery, but we already know what is going on. People die after getting on the neck. No one knows who or what is doing the killing. A good guess on our part would be, the Reptile. By the time the players figure that out, we have already have figured out who is the Reptile. The film is a little low on terror and gore for a Hammer film, but writing and effects more than make up for it. Plus the film boasts one of the best 'dead body POV shots' ever filmed. A must for any Hammer fan!