The Lair of the White Worm (1988)

Director:

Ken Russell

Writers:

Ken Russell (screenplay)
Bram Stoker (novel)

Release Date:

21 October 1988 (USA)

Genre:

Horror | Thriller

Plot:

Scottish archaelogist Angus Flint discovers an odd skull amid the ruins of a convent which he is excavating...

Plot Keywords:

Worm | Temple | Cavern | Skull | Lord

Awards:

1 win & 3 nominations

Cast

Amanda Donohoe	...	Lady Sylvia Marsh
Hugh Grant	...	Lord James D'Ampton
Catherine Oxenberg	...	Eve Trent
Peter Capaldi	...	Angus Flint
Sammi Davis	...	Mary Trent
Stratford Johns	...	Peters
Paul Brooke	...	P.C. Erny
Imogen Claire	...	Dorothy Trent
Chris Pitt	...	Kevin
Gina McKee	...	Nurse Gladwell
Christopher Gable	...	Joe Trent
Lloyd Peters	...	Jesus Christ
Miranda Coe	...	Maids / Nuns
Linzi Drew	...	Maids / Nuns
Caron Anne Kelly	...	Maids / Nuns

Runtime:

93 min

Country:

UK | USA

Language:

English

Color:

Color (Technicolor)

Aspect Ratio:

1.85 : 1

Sound Mix:

Dolby

Certification:

Belgium:16 (video rating) | Australia:R | France:-12 | UK:18 | USA:R | West Germany:18 | South Korea:18 | Italy:VM14

Filming Locations:

Gaddesden Place, Hemel Hempstead, Hertfordshire, England, UK

Company:

White Lair

Trivia:

Director Cameo: [Ken Russell]calls out "Hello, Mary," he walks by her farm at the beginning.

Goofs:

Continuity: When Eve is tied up and waiting to be sacrificed, Lady Sylvia places the Dionin skull next to her and walks away. Several seconds later the skull disappears while Eve is struggling to get away, but it reappears when Sylvia returns.

Quotes:

Kevin: I'm not really into headbanging.
Lady Sylvia Marsh: Are you into any kind of banging?

Movie Connections:

Referenced in Comic Relief Does University Challenge (2005) (TV)

Soundtrack:

The D'Ampton Worm

Fun in the tradition of Rocky Horror

This is a kitschy, sexy and funny movie. Ken Russel(the director of Whore and Track 29)is at his best. Taboos are endless. Scottish rock, demon worship, S&M and the defiling of Christian icons. Amanda Donohoe is luscious as the blood-sucking, dildo wielding Priestess of the Worm.

Catherine Oxenberg is a perfect blonde damsel in distress and Hugh Grant is at his sexy, bored playboy of the manor born. The production value is not the greatest but there are moments when the not-so-special effects lend an aire of underground theater to the proceedings. I highly recommend this film.