
The Serpent and the Rainbow
1988, Horror, 1h 38m
34 Reviews 10,000+ RatingsWhat to know
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. Read critic reviews
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Where to watch
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Movie Info
Cast & Crew
Dennis Alan
Marielle Duchamp
Dargent Peytraud
Lucien Celine
Louis Mozart
Christophe
Critic Reviews for The Serpent and the Rainbow
All Critics (34) | Top Critics (8) | Fresh (22) | Rotten (12)
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Offers a few good scares but gets bogged down in special effects.
September 25, 2007 | Full Review… -
Genuinely frightening.
September 25, 2007 | Full Review… -
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.
February 9, 2006 | Full Review… -
A lame documentary-flavored horror story.
January 25, 2006 | Rating: C | Full Review… -
The Serpent and the Rainbow has a screenplay that often breaks its spell.
August 30, 2004 | Rating: 2.5/5 -
[Craven] seems wiser and more story-conscious -- but thankfully still full of the same surprises.
January 1, 2000 | Full Review…
Audience Reviews for The Serpent and the Rainbow
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Oct 06, 2013When Bill Pullman is your most commanding presence, you can rest assured that the casting is pretty maladroit. In a precursor to the early 2000's torture porn, Pullman's scrotum is ruptured with a nail and aside from that unpleasant image, the film is piddling and not hair-raising in the least. Craven has always been an overpraised director of the horror variety and while the concept is brimming with occult potential, it is more suited to a documentary than a full-fledged chiller. To spice up the otherwise lumbering proceedings, Craven shoehorns a medley of hallucinations with corpse brides and reanimated zombies. None of these approach cohesion. All of the titillating genre elements are extraneous (the aforementioned dream sequences and a needless sex scene). In a career of monumental near-misses, 'The Serpent and the Rainbow' might be Craven's most bungled effort.Cory T Super Reviewer
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Sep 06, 2013Voodoo based horror apparently inspired by a true story. When a researcher comes back a bit fucked up after a trip to Haiti he gets sent back again(?!) to find a powder that is meant help bring the dead back to life, as has been reported in sightings in Haiti. Obviously he's going to need help and gets teamed up at the island with a pretty nurse-type lady but there are certain people and powers that don't want him there and in the mysterious world of voodoo, anything can happen. It's not that bad, Bill Pullman is pretty good as the researcher and it gets better as it goes on with some decent dream sequences, creepy bits and stuff and its directed by Wes Craven so wasn't going to be a complete waste of time. Worth a look but overall The Serpent and the Rainbow is a little dull for far to long.Adam M Super Reviewer
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Mar 15, 2013Craven comes up with enough memorable images that I'm willing to forgive the ridiculousness of the whole story. Also, that "hammer and nail" sequence is one of the most upsetting things I've ever seen.Alec B Super Reviewer
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Jan 12, 2012Cheap special effects and a distracting plot leave The Serpent And The Rainbow colorless.Matt P Super Reviewer
The Serpent and the Rainbow Quotes
Dennis Alan: | What do you want from me? |
Dargent Peytraud: | I want to hear you scream! |
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