Price: $ 8.82
Hugh Grant Amanda Donohoe and Catherine Oxenberg star in this mix of heart-stopping horror and campy humor. James D’Ampton (Grant) returns to his country castle in England. Legend has it that James’ distant ancestor once slayed the local dragon-a monstrous white worm with a fondness for the sweet flesh of virgins. The young Lord dismisses the legend as folklore until archaeology student Angus Flint unearths a massive reptilian skull and the ancient worship site of a pagan snake god on James’ property. When James’ virtuous girlfriend Eve (Oxenburg) suddenly disappears he and Angus set out to investigate the foreboding cavern said to be the worm’s lair where a centuries-old mystery begins to uncoil. Features: WIdeScreen version 2.0 Dolby Stereo Surround Scene AccessInteractive MenusSystem Requirements:Run Time: 93 MinFormat: DVD MOVIE Genre: HORROR Rating: R UPC: 012236125600 Manufacturer No: 12560Wittily updated from one of Dracula author Bram Stoker’s lesser-known horror novels, The Lair of the White Worm is a camp classic that only Ken Russell could have delivered. It’s got all the perversity one expects from the bombastic director of Tommy and Altered States: sensible plotting, intelligent dialogue laced with double entendre, graphic imagery with Boschian intensity, and a mischievous disregard for good taste and decorum. In other words, it’s heretically hilarious, especially when skeptical Lord D’Ampton (fresh-faced Hugh Grant, in one of his earliest films) begins to suspect that seductive neighbor Sylvia (Amanda Donohoe, game for anything) is connected to the local legend of a monstrous serpent that feeds on sacrificial virgins. Evidence mounts with the help of a local archaeologist (Peter Capaldi) and two endangered sisters (Catherine Oxenberg, Sammi Davis), and Russell infuses Stoker’s grisly plot with his inimitable brand of blasphemy, including a gouged eyeball, a venom-splattered crucifix, Roman soldiers raping nuns (in a delirious hallucination sequence), and some of the funniest one-liners since Young Frankenstein. Prudes beware; everyone else…enjoy! –Jeff Shannon
Rating: 
(out of 46 reviews)
List Price: $ 14.98
Price: $ 8.82
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Review by Ned J. McWhirter for The Lair of the White Worm
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Hideously kinky, delightfully depraved and woefully witty… this is Ken Russell’s masterpiece! Where else can you see ex-”Dynasty” trollop Catherine Oxenberg trussed up as a virginal pagan sacrifice to a 90-foot long demonic albino snake? Or ex-L.A. Lawyer Amanda Donahoe running around in just a thin layer electric blue bodypaint and two-inch snake fangs? Or the pre-”Four Weddings and a Funeral” Hugh Grant act like the smug, upper-class twit that he is instead of a hangdog shy wimp? What a great movie!The DVD looks good… not a huge improvement over the VHS release, but the trailers and TV spots are funny and Ken Russell’s commentary is droll and entertaining. I highly reccomend this film for anyone who likes vampires, thigh-high leather boots, Tommy: the Movie or dry-humored immortal pagan snake-god priestesses. Hail Dionin!
Review by Allie Kat for The Lair of the White Worm
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This one was despised by the serious critics, but all that means is that they weren’t weird enough to enjoy it. All right, it’s trash. But it’s great trash. It’s my idea of a feel-good movie. It’s kinky, erotic, scary, and funny. And bright. Literally. After zillions of creepy, dark, scary scenes in movies, the sunshine and well-lit rooms in this one emphasize the horror scenes. But who cares about the lighting? It’s main attraction is an over-the-top performance by Amanda Donohoe as a very bad girl. Upper-crust Hugh Grant and his cohorts have a lot of fun trying to evade her slithery grasp. That’s about all you need to know. But for heaven’s sakes, don’t take it seriously. If you hate it, you’ll really hate it.
Review by Deborah MacGillivray for The Lair of the White Worm
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Up front, NOT everyone will like this film. It’s a Ken Russell film, after all. That said, if you are scared of snakes, have a religious bent or hate picked earthworms in aspec, then this film is NOT for you!! Amanda Donahoe turns out a stunning performs as the Lady who is not a lady. Hugh Grant (before he was HUGH Grant) is perfect as Lord D’Ampton. A mystery, a horror with vampire tones, Russell crafts a winning hommage to old Hammer Films, and boldly goes where they rarely did, and adds the dash of droll humour to top off the mix.Russell’s best film!! But as I said, NOT everyone will appreciate it.
Review by Hampus Eckerman for The Lair of the White Worm
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Lair of the White Worm is originally a story by Bram Stoker (author of Dracula) and the book is really worth reading. It is based on an old folk tale, adapted by many different authors, of how a giant worm (dragon) was slain by a knight. In one story the knight clad himself in a plate mail of spikes and when the worm tried to crush him, it killed itself.The movie (and book) takes place several hundred years later when the Lord James D’Ampton (Hugh Grant), grandchild of the knight who slew the worm, returns to his castle at the same time as an old skull, of unknown species is found by an archeology student (Peter Capaldi). At the same time a mysterious lady (Amanda Donohoe) arrives from her travels abroad. And people start to disappear.The story is good, the actors are excellent, the filming is beautiful, but the special effects sometimes leaves something to wish for. One has to remember that this is Ken Russel directing which means spooky dream sequences, some weird camery angles and characters that are a bit too much – in a good way. This is also true for the dialogue. Hugh Grant is simply perfect as the snobbish lord that has set his mind to destroy the new D’Ampton-worm and with Amanda Donohoe as the evil worm-cultist, sexy and manipulating at once, things couldn’t be better.A Ken Russel-fan will definitely love this one, so will any one that has liked Sam Raimi’s (Evil Dead) movies, even if this hasn’t got as much gore). So will also anyone who likes their horror with an ironic touch. Anyone that wants the standard version of Hollywood Horror should choose another one.
Review by for The Lair of the White Worm
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Ken Russell does it again, flourishing as a genius of mondo-bizarro cinema! Here he engages us in a game of sorts, pulling us into the action as it writhes around on the screen before us. It draws us in, taking every ounce of Donohoe’s performance into our jealously campy hearts. You can’t help but completely fall in love with every perforamce presented here, but Amanda Donohoe is fabulous!!! Complete with monstrous white worms lurking in caves, vampire cults, blood and gore, sword play, Hugh Grant at his campy best (outshining even the likes of Rupert Everett) and a satirical director at the top of his form. Lair of the White Worm is a masterpiece, a hidden gem that must be given serious reconsideration!
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