Themes: When Animals Attack, Kidnapping, Terrorism
Main Cast: Klaus Kinski, Oliver Reed, Nicol Williamson, Sarah Miles, Sterling Hayden, Lance Holcomb
Release Year: 1982
Country: UK
Run Time: 93 minutes
MPAA Rating: R
Plot
A big black mamba snake that has gotten loose in a townhouse slithers through a kidnapping plot in this film. Based on a novel by Alan Scholefield, Venom features a big name British cast that seems to be slumming in a B-movie project. Dr. Marion Stowe (Sarah Miles) is a toxicologist who has brought the snake to London to study the properties of its deadly venom. It escapes and terrorizes the inhabitants of the townhouse, where an attempted kidnapping is in progress. Dave (Oliver Reed), Jacmel (Klaus Kinski) and Louise (Susan George) are the villains trying to hold the son of a wealthy family for ransom. Original director Tobe Hooper was replaced by Piers Haggard. ~ Michael Betzold, All Movie Guide
Review
Animal attack films aren't known to be the most inspired of the bunch, so 1982's Venom is a slight breath of fresh air when compared to the endless post-Jaws knock offs. Essentially a psychological thriller, the snake (a black mamba in this case) is mostly thrown in to catch the audience off guard in the midst of a siege-type hostage situation. Yes, it's clearly a plot device, but one that is used quite well in regards to the overall film. Known mainly for it's impressive performances despite it's B-film roots, Venom includes two of the most famously difficult actors of their time: Klaus Kinski and Oliver Reed. Virtually at each other's throats during the shoot, the tension between the two heavies plays out onscreen just as it did in real life. Reed's seething paranoia is remarkable, as is his infamous death scene (truly, a grisly way to die). Also worth mentioning is Sterling Hayden's effortlessly warm grandfather role and Nicol Williamson as the strong, but sly British cop Bulloch. Combined with the appearance of Sarah Miles and deft direction by last-minute replacement Piers Haggard, the production is ultimately classier than the script it follows. Sadly, with little meat to flesh out the thrills, Venom's bite isn't nearly as deadly as it could have been. Still, it's a classy thriller and worth checking out, if only to hear Reed spout out his amazing "cheeky little bastard" line. ~ Jeremy Wheeler, All Movie Guide
Cornelia Sharpe - Ruth Hopkins; Susan George - Louise; Michael Gough - David Ball; Cyril Conway - Man in 17; Charles Cork - Driver's Mate; Arnold Diamond - Headwaiter; John Forbes-Robertson - Sgt. Nash; Mike Gwilym - Detective Constable Dan Spencer; Edward Hardwicke - Lord Dunning; Hugh Lloyd - Taxi Driver; Peter Porteous - Hodges; Eric Richard - Airline Clerk; David Sterne - Driver; Rita Webb - Mrs. Lowenthal; Paul Williamson - Detective Sgt. Glazer; Nicholas Donnelly - Police Superintendent; Alan Ford - Peters; Moti Makan - Murkerjee; Tony Meyer - Martin; Maurice Colbourne - Sampson; Michael Watkins - Rogers
Credit
Tony Curtis - Art Director, Harry Benn - Associate Producer, Dominic Fulford - First Assistant Director, Piers Haggard - Director, Michael Bradsell - Second Unit Director, Michael Bradsell - Editor, Michael Kamen - Composer (Music Score), Basil Newall - Makeup, Denys Coop - Cinematographer, Gilbert Taylor - Cinematographer, Martin Bregman - Producer, Louis A. Stroller - Producer, Richard St. Johns - Producer, Richard Dean - Special Effects, Alan Whibley - Special Effects, Simon Kaye - Sound/Sound Designer, Roy Scammell - Stunts, Robert Carrington - Screenwriter, Alan Scholefield - Book Author
