The Serpent and the Rainbow

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The Serpent and the Rainbow

R

Released Jan 15, 1988

1h 38m

Horror

Fantasy

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Tomatometer

Popcornmeter

62%

Tomatometer

37 Reviews

57%

Popcornmeter

10,000+ Ratings

In a time of social and political unrest in Haiti, anthropologist Dennis Alan (Bill Pullman) travels to the torn country to study a Voodoo drug used in religious practices to turn victims into living zombies. With the help of a witch doctor (Brent Jennings) and a fellow researcher (Cathy Tyson), Dennis pieces together the deadly mystery. But as Dennis uncovers the secrets behind the mysterious powder, he must evade the Haitian authorities who view his research as a potential threat.

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Critics Consensus

Although it's occasionally overwhelmed by excessive special effects, The Serpent and the Rainbow draws on a chilling atmosphere to deliver an intelligent, politically informed story.

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Variety Staff

Variety

Offers a few good scares but gets bogged down in special effects.

Sep 25, 2007

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Jonathan Rosenbaum

Chicago Reader

Genuinely frightening.

Sep 25, 2007

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Derek Adams

Time Out

Unfortunately, the political parallel between the ideological repression of Baby Doc's regime and the stultifying effects of the zombifying fluid is only sketchily developed, leaving us with a series of striking but isolated set pieces.

Feb 9, 2006

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David Nusair

Reel Film Reviews

...a mostly worthless piece of work that’s a strong contender for Craven’s very worst film.

Rated: .5/4

Jul 7, 2023

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Cheryl Eddy

io9.com

The Serpent and the Rainbow still makes for a mostly satisfying horror-viewing experience...

Sep 14, 2022

Full Review

Rene Jordan

El Nuevo Herald (Miami)

Lethargic due to its incoherence, while the only thing that truly instills fear is Bill Pullman, the Apollonian protagonist with the worst acting I think I've ever seen in a professional film. [Full review in Spanish]

Jun 28, 2022

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Gina R

A mix of horror and psychological thriller, we become enmeshed in Pullman's struggle, and as things get worse for him, the audience stays invested and hopeful he will overcome the horrors surrounding him.

Rated 5 out of 5 stars

06/19/25

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thiago s

Filme ruim, o roteiro é fraco, as cenas são fracas com um terror fraci, o elenco é fraco, e ninguém ajuda a melhorar o filme, a história é fraca, o filme deveria ter cenas bem melhores e relevantes para fazer o filme ser bom.

Rated 0.5 out of 5 stars

04/01/25

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Ricardo d

Um típico filme de anos 80, onde o mocinho tem que ser um super homem bonitão, que em algum momento tem que transar com a mocinha, e devemos ter um final feliz. Acho que a edição atrapalha o roteiro aqui. E Bill está bem no que lhe é proposto.

Rated 1.5 out of 5 stars

02/16/25

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Stoner J

Really good gem from Wes Craven. It's ‘The Believers'-ish (released the previous year), but not as good

Rated 4 out of 5 stars

10/16/23

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Michael R

I remember when this movie came out in the 80's. It still presents itself well in 2023! It gives us a look into the world of voodoo in Haitian culture without the corny jump scares and over the top zombie imagery. A good movie overall.

Rated 3.5 out of 5 stars

09/02/23

Full Review

James Durso C

THE SERPENT AND THE RAINBOW is a non-conventional thriller. It won't be every horror fan's cup of tea as it's partly based on a true medical story. But it is Wes Craven's most unique film after ANOES. TSATR is about a drug that kills you, then resurrects you. It's about the struggle that exists between people who believe they have the right to own such a power. It's terror however exists inside "the space the drug creates" between life and death and the horrible things men are willing to do to own that space. 100% worth watching, TSATR will make sober people think they're on acid while it gets them closer to God.

Rated 5 out of 5 stars

08/01/23

Full Review

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Wes Craven

Director

Bill Pullman

Dennis Alan

Cathy Tyson

Marielle Duchamp

Zakes Mokae

Dargent Peytraud

Paul Winfield

Lucien Celine

Brent Jennings

Louis Mozart

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Synopsis

In a time of social and political unrest in Haiti, anthropologist Dennis Alan (Bill Pullman) travels to the torn country to study a Voodoo drug used in religious practices to turn victims into living zombies. With the help of a witch doctor (Brent Jennings) and a fellow researcher (Cathy Tyson), Dennis pieces together the deadly mystery. But as Dennis uncovers the secrets behind the mysterious powder, he must evade the Haitian authorities who view his research as a potential threat.

Director: Wes Craven
Producer: Doug Claybourne, David Ladd
Screenwriter: Richard Maxwell, Adam Rodman
Distributor: MCA/Universal Pictures [us], Image Entertainment Inc.
Production Co: Universal Pictures
Rating: R
Genre: Horror, Fantasy
Original Language: English
Release Date (Theaters): Jan 15, 1988, Original
Release Date (Streaming): Apr 19, 2016
Box Office (Gross USA): $19.0M
Runtime: 1h 38m
Sound Mix: Surround

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