ThiefHott Too much of everything

Micransix Crappy film

Portia Hilton Blistering performances.

Marva It is an exhilarating, distressing, funny and profound film, with one of the more memorable film scores in years,

LeonLouisRicci Director and Cult Favorite Ken Russell is on the loose, so scurry away the Children and Enjoy this Guilty Pleasure. Fans of Russell need no convincing of His unbridled Talent and willingness to be seen as a Maverick and routinely Pokes Fun at Himself and Critics with Gleeful Abandon.No one makes Films quite like Him and therein lies the Appeal. This is a full blown, Sex-Fest with Mysterious Overtones and over the top Glitz. It's quite a Visual Treat and includes familiar Hallucinogenic Hubris with the usual Religious Bashing for that the Director is well known.The Movie is Tons of Fun and if You are a Prude please move on and allow the Artistic Freedom to Flourish and Flourish it does. The Film is Never Boring and moves like a Reptile from one Slithering Scene to another with its Charms.The Cast is as Oddball as the Film with Hugh Grant and Amanda Donahue delivering. The SFX are done on the Cheap and Cheap hardly ever Looks this Good. There are some Stunning Locations and the Lair of the White Worm is a Gargantuan Cave dwelling that is as Impressive as it is Ominous.A Campy, Cult, and Captivating Exercise in Sex, Symbolism, and Sleaze that is an Unforgettable Experience. In fact, most of Ken Russell's Movies are Unforgettable.

malmborgimplano-92-599820 I always thought that "The Rocky Horror Picture Show" was the best Ken Russell film ever made without the actual involvement of Ken Russell, so I was terribly disappointed when this film came out, as it was so clearly meant to be Russell's chance to capitalize on the sensational success "Rocky Horror" was having as a midnight movie, but just not making it. It's "Lisztomania," which came out the same year as "Rocky Horror," not "Lair," that turned out to be the closest Russell ever got to making his own version of the cult film that imitated his unique razzle dazzle style so profitably. It's even got Nell Campbell in it. But that was just Russell being Russell, of course.I recently snagged "Lair" again as part of my "Doctor Who" hiatus summer of Capaldiwatching and found that I like it a lot better now that I'm 27 years older and have seen a lot more of both Russell's work as well as the classic Hammer horror films that both "Lair" and "Rocky Horror" pay tribute to. It used to drive me up the wall that Amanda Donohoe's Lady Sylvia failed to be as sensational a sex villain as Tim Curry's Dr. Frank-N-Furter. Now I think she's pretty sensational in her own right. And of course her mission isn't to give herself over to absolute pleasure, but to bring the evil ways of paganism back to Christian-era Britain. In that way she's closer to Willow MacGregor in "Wicker Man" than to Frankie. And the climax of "Lair" is very much like an Art Deco version of the "Wicker Man" sacrifice. Maybe that's why Russell sent in the Glaswegian Peter Capaldi in his tartans and hand grenade-filled sporran to save the day and restore the "Wicker Man"-besmirched honor of the land of John Knox. The fact that Hugh Grant's Lord D'Ampton is completely upstaged by Capaldi's Angus Flint, I now realize, is not a fault at all but an intentional strategy of Russell's to make the intrepid Scotsman with literal dirt under his fingernails the true hero of the piece, while the handsome filthy rich young English nobleman is just literally a tosser (notice the girly magazine on his bedside table.) I recently read the never-produced screenplay of Ken Russell's adaptation of "Dracula," which Russell had hoped to make as part of a package deal with "Lair," and it gave me a lot more insight into this film. It's a surprisingly good script, definitely the highest quality "Dracula" adaptation I've run across. Russell clearly knew how to structure a good Hammer-style Gothic story that's stronger on character, plot development and atmosphere than juvenile cheap thrills, and though "Lair" is no classic it's as entertaining and absorbing as the average Hammer film (i.e., incredibly.) Russell also wrote an unproduced sequel to "Lair," "Revenge of the White Worm," as yet unpublished. There aren't many details out there about it but I have to believe Russell brought Angus Flint back in it. You'd miss him if he wasn't there.

evileyereviews This was simply a delightful trinity of comedy, horror, and Christian blasphemy. Ken Russel's deviation from the norms of humanity are a treat as this almost campy flick only gets better with age. The actors are all in on the gag, making the humor that much more gut-wrenching. Production values are pretty weak, but this is somehow transmogrified into one of this flick's strengths. The story itself is pretty solid, with maybe a hole here and there, but the viewer can hardly be bothered with such things. Being horribly sexy and funny, this wonder will occasionally shock its audience with a poison-laden psychedelic journey that will surely offend our Christian friends. If blasphemy is not too offensive then this flick is probably for you. Late.Evil Eye Reviews

lastliberal Hugh Grant started his acting career in 1982 (He was Hughie Grant then). After one movie, he went into TV for a few years, and emerged in 1987 with Maurice. He was in seven films in 1988, and this is one of those. Certainly not his greatest role, it is certainly one that is memorable for it's campy fun.Bram Stoker is best known for Dracula, which has been made into countless films, but this film adaptation of one of his other novels is well worth watching.Beside Grant, who I will watch in anything, there is the amazing Golden Globe winner Amanda Donohoe (C. J. Lamb from L.A. Law), and Catherine Oxenberg (Amanda Carrington from Dynasty). These two were recently united again in Starship Troopers 3: Marauder.It also stars Oscar winner Peter Capaldi (Franz Kafka's It's a Wonderful Life).Besides some really fantastic cars, it has some scenes that are indescribable, and have to be seen to fully appreciate. It's almost like watching the Rocky Horror Picture Show at times.Donahue was simply stunning as Sylvia and she delivered her lines with charm and wit, and her costuming was slithering skintight and scrumptiously slinky. We could mention that this is a "R" rated film, so there might be some discrete nakedness throughout, some bisexuality, and some Black Widow action as she kills after mating. Does this entice you?