The Serpent and the Rainbow

R

Released Jan 15, 1988

1 hr. 38 min.

Horror

Fantasy

List

62%

37 Reviews

Tomatometer

57%

10,000+ Ratings

Audience Score

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 a intelligent, politically informed story.

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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

Full Review

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

Audience Member

One of the late Wes Craven's most underrated gems even 35 years later starring Bill Pullman despite being met with good criticism and making a decent profit but didn't gain a huge cult following until later I enjoyed watching it years back Based on the book by Wade Davis Pullman plays Dr. Dennis Alan whose specialty is studying traditional medicine in native cultures He’s introduced meeting with a shaman in the Amazon, where he experiences strong hallucinations after ingesting a mysterious concoction Dennis is called to a meeting with the ominously named Biocorp wanting to know more about the dead coming back to life to make a powerful medical anesthetic He even teams up with local physician Dr. Marielle Duchamp (Cathy Tyson) and attempts to procure some of the substance This film doesn’t entirely avoid exoticizing a foreign culture, but Craven treats Haiti and the voodoo religion with far more respect It acts way more political than straight up horror Dennis might be losing his mind considering the things he starts to see suffering from PTSD Acting as an American imperialist Dennis is viewed as seizing control and power over the Haitians Craven had a good idea here combing voodoo magic and political rifts Lots of crazy visuals and special effects blurring fantasy as well as reality These zombies in particular are more primal and unsettling, all the more so for their origins in human cruelty and greed rather than something truly supernatural Despite changes like the names of the people in the book and expanding upon the zombification process, it ties it in with a timely story about revolution and political control in Haiti The voodoo angle is treated more seriously and authentic The result is an Indiana Jones-esque adventure infused with nightmarish visuals and a palpable atmosphere of impending doom that is a true highlight of Craven’s oeuvre This represents a true return to form following Craven's previous years’ misfires, and even features his signature motif of trapping his characters in a space somewhere between dream and reality The script is tight, the style is inventive, and the special effects are phenomenal The late filmmaker reveals how evil can cut across geographic and regional lines to become an omnipotent, pervasive force

Rated 4 out of 5 stars

02/12/23

Full Review

Michael M

Very Chilling and Suspensely Entertaining Wes Craven Film. Very Underrated!

Rated 4.5 out of 5 stars

06/12/22

Full Review

Audience Member

Just really bad. The cinematography was equivalent to what was used to film goosebumps, it was incredibly boring and made absolutely no sense whatsoever. Doesn't even deserve above a 30.

Rated 1.5 out of 5 stars

02/18/23

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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Variety Staff

Variety

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

Sep 25, 2007

Full Review

Jonathan Rosenbaum

Chicago Reader

Genuinely frightening.

Sep 25, 2007

Full Review

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

Full Review

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

Full Review

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

Full Review

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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
Executive Producer: Rob Cohen, Keith Barish
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
Sound Mix: Surround

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