Main Cast: Amanda Donohoe, Hugh Grant, Catherine Oxenberg, Sammi Davis, Peter Capaldi
Release Year: 1988
Country: US/UK
Run Time: 93 minutes
MPAA Rating: R
Plot
Ken Russell's Lair of the White Worm uses Dracula author Bram Stoker's final novel as the basic springboard into a surreal and dark-humored tale concerning a bizarre cult and a series of sacrificial murders in honor of an ancient pagan god. When archeologist Angus Flint (Peter Capaladi) discovers the mysterious scull of an undiscovered beast, further investigation reveals a bizarre myth concerning a medieval knight slaying a fearsome dragon. Soon making the acquaintance of Lord James D'Ampton (Hugh Grant), the conquering knight's descendant, Flint begins to learn of local lore surrounding the creature and soon discovers that, throughout the years, many unexplained disappearances have haunted the local populace. With all trails leading back to the elegant mansion of mysterious recluse Lady Sylvia Marsh (Amanda Donohoe), Lord D'Ampton makes Marsh's acquaintance amidst growing speculation that the strangely seductive siren may have something to do with a rash of recent disappearances. As Flint and D'Ampton's stories begin to strangely intersect, a surreal and horrific journey into the lair of an ancient god may hold they key to an age-old mystery. ~ Jason Buchanan, All Movie Guide
Paul Brooke - P.C. Erny; Stratford Johns - Peters, the Butler; Imogen Claire - Dorothy Trent; Chris Pitt - Kevin; Gina McKee - Nurse Gladwell; Christopher Gable - Joe Trent; Lloyd Peters - Jesus Christ; Miranda Coe - Maid-Nun; Linzi Drew - Maid-Nun; Caron Anne Kelly - Maid-Nun; Fiona O'Conner - Maid-Nun; Caroline Pope - Maid-Nun; Elisha Scott - Maid-Nun; Tina Shaw - Maid-Nun; Jackie Russell - Snakewoman; James Hicks - Soldier-Witchdoctor; Paul Easom - Soldier-Witchdoctor; David Kiernan - Soldier-Witchdoctor; Matthew King - Soldier-Witchdoctor; Ross King - Soldier-Witchdoctor; Andy Norman - Soldier-Witchdoctor; Bob Smith - Soldier-Witchdoctor
Credit
Gail Stevens - Casting, Imogen Claire - Choreography, Michael Jeffery - Costume Designer, Ken Russell - Director, Peter Davies - Editor, Dan Ireland - Executive Producer, William J. Quigley - Executive Producer, Ronaldo Vasconcellos - Line Producer, Stanislas Syrewicz - Composer (Music Score), Emilio Perez Machado - Songwriter, Stephan Powys - Songwriter, Pam Meager - Makeup, Image Animation - Makeup Special Effects, Anne Tilby - Production Designer, Dick Bush - Cinematographer, Robin Browne - Cinematographer, Laura Julian - Production Manager, Dan Ireland - Producer, Ken Russell - Producer, Ronaldo Vasconcellos - Producer, Anne Tilby - Set Designer, Geoff Portass - Special Effects, Ray Beckett - Sound/Sound Designer, Stuart St. Paul - Stunts, Stuart St. Paul - Stunts Coordinator, Ken Russell - Screenwriter, Bram Stoker - Book Author
Angus Flint (Peter Capaldi) a Scottish archaeology student excavating the site of convent, at the Derbyshire Bed & Breakfast run by the Trent sisters, Mary (Sammi Davis) and Eve (Catherine Oxenberg), He unearths an unusual skull which appears to be that of a large snake. He ties the find to the local legend of the d'Ampton "worm", a mythical snake slain in Stonerich Cavern by John d'Ampton, the ancestor of current Lord of the Manor, James d'Ampton (Hugh Grant). When the watch of the Trent sisters' father, who disappeared a year ago near Temple House, the stately home of Lady Sylvia Marsh (Amanda Donohoe), is found miles away in Stonerich Cavern, Angus thinks the legendary creature may have survived and still be alive deep beneath the cavern. The enigmatic Lady Sylvia is the immortal priestess to the snake God Dionin, which, as Angus suspected, still exists in the caves beneath her house which connect with Stonerich Cavern. She steals the skull and later abducts Eve to be the latest sacrificial offering to her God, but her actions are discovered and Angus with the help of James manages to rescue Eve and destroy both Sylvia and the worm.
The Derbyshire house used as the location for Mercy Farm was previously used as the Gordon family Home in the 1970s TV series The Adventures of Black Beauty.
Elgar (1962, TV) ·French Dressing (1963) ·The Debussy Film (1965, TV) ·Always On Sunday (1965, TV) ·Isadora Duncan, The Biggest Dancer In The World (1966, TV) ·Dante's Inferno (1967, TV) ·Billion Dollar Brain (1967) ·Song of Summer (1968, TV) ·Women in Love (1969)
