VeteranLight I don't have all the words right now but this film is a work of art.

Teringer An Exercise In Nonsense

Kaelan Mccaffrey Like the great film, it's made with a great deal of visible affection both in front of and behind the camera.

Ezmae Chang This is a small, humorous movie in some ways, but it has a huge heart. What a nice experience.

Michael_Elliott Venom (1981) *** (out of 4)An excellent cast highlights this crime picture that throws in some horror elements for a grand entertainment. A butler (Oliver Reed) and maid (Susan George) agree to help a terrorist (Klaus Kinski) kidnap a young boy who belongs to a rich bounty hunter (Sterling Haden). Their plans don't work out too well but it takes an even deadlier turn when they're all held up inside the house with a black mamba on the loose. I can't comment on what it was like watching VENOM back when it was released in 1981 but when you're viewing it today you can't help but watch it with your brain rolling as well as your eyes glued to the screen. I mean, check out the cast of this thing! I'm really not sure how everything came together but I must say that this little crime picture actually manages to have quite the bite as far as entertainment goes.I will say that there are some major flaws with the picture including the fact that this "terrorist" group has to be the cheapest and most pathetic from any movie that I recall. I mean, their entire plan is just crazy and stupid and the way the situation unfolds is just somewhat embarrassing. With that said, the film certainly picks up once the criminals and their hostages are trapped inside with the police on the outside and a deadly snake inside.The entire snake aspect seems to have been thrown in to try and sell this off as a horror picture but it works. I'm personally scared of snakes so this here helped add to the uneasy factor I had watching it. The point of view snake attacks are clever in their own way and there's no question that the violent reaction of the humans adds some entertainment value. It should go without saying but what keeps VENOM so entertaining is the wonderful cast. I mean, you've got Kinski and Reed in the same movie! Having them as your bad guys just makes the film worth watching. Throw in Susan George from STRAW DOGS and it's even better. Her part is rather forgettable but it's still fun watching her. Throw in Nicol Williamson as the lead officer, Sarah Miles as a snake expert and then Hayden as the grandfather and you've really got a stellar cast.VENOM was originally to be directed by Tobe Hooper but he was fired (or quit) after a couple day's filming. WHo knows how it would have turned out in his hands but as it stands, this is a fast and fun movie.

preppy-3 ...and had trouble staying awake! Horrible, boring "thriller" about a bunch of kidnappers (or terrorists or something) stuck in a house with some hostages and a killer snake. Periodically the snake appears and bites someone. Yawn. This was a troubled production. Original director Tobe Hopper was fired over "creative differences" (I think he actually read the script and realized it was hopeless) and the DOP left a few days later. There were well-reported screaming matches between the stars and director. It was a wonder this thing was ever finished! I just can't figure how they got such a distinguished cast of actors in this. They all give out their worst performances by the way. Oliver Reed especially--he appears drunk through most of the film (maybe he was). Klaus Kinski just walks through his role and Sarah Miles and Nicol Williamson look embarrassed (no surprise there). Only Susan George shows any acting ability--and she's only in it for a short period of time. The snake POV attacks are kind of cool but they're a VERY small portion of this. Not a horror film but a slow, dull thriller with a lousy script and atrocious performances. Only worth seeing to watch a bunch of talented actors embarrass themselves. A 1 all the way.

merklekranz Menacing, but not in an over the top psychotic way, Klaus Kinski delivers a very believable performance. He is more calculating than usual, and has no problem outsmarting the British police, who seem more interested in drinking coffee than anything else. What ever happened to tea? Klaus easily steals this movie from the remaining likable cast. The snake has it's own point of view, which works quite effectively. The story plays out with a couple tense moments,and at least one major surprise, that is unfortunately revealed in the trailer, so I recommend skipping watching the extra's until after the feature. Overall, one of Kinski's best, and he has ample screen time, for you to enjoy this wonderful actor. - MERK

STEVEN DANKO This is a stylish British-made thriller about an attempted kidnapping thwarted by a deadly snake. A young American boy, Philip Hopkins(LANCE HOLCOMB), is left in the care of his grandfather Howard Anderson(STERLING HAYDEN) at the family's London townhouse when his mother goes to Rome on business. The maid Louise(SUSAN GEORGE) and the chauffeur Dave(OLIVER REED) have conspired with one Jacques Muller aka Jacmel(KLAUS KINSKI), an international master criminal, to kidnap young Philip and hold him for ransom. The plan goes awry when Philip breaks away from Louise and hops a cab to a local pet shop to pick up the newest addition to his ever-growing menagerie- a harmless African house snake. What Philip doesn't know is that a mix-up occurred and what he's taking home with him in that wooden box is far from harmless. The London Institute of Toxicology inadvertently winds up with the house snake and Philip gets what the Institute had ordered- and it isn't pretty. It's a Black Mamba, one of the most lethal and dangerous snakes on Earth. It's the snake with the most macabre reputation on the African continent. It strikes hard and fast and carries an extremely toxic venom that can kill an adult within a few minutes. When a doctor at the Toxicology Institute(SARAH MILES) comes to realize the horrific implications of what occurred, she calls the police to try and track down the recipient of the mamba before the box is opened. Alas, it is too late. The maid opens the box, gets struck three times in rapid succession and dies a very ugly death in less than six minutes. An investigating police sergeant arrives at the townhouse and is shotgunned to death by Dave the Chauffeur, whose hair-trigger temper seems to match that of the mamba's. An armed standoff ensues, with the police surrounding the townhouse and the kidnappers(minus one) inside with their hostages. Oh,yes- the snake is now also loose and this plot element serves to ratchet up the tension and suspense considerably. A battle of wits ensues between Jacmel and the police commander in charge(NICOL WILLIAMSON) as each tries to outfox the other. In addition to a $100,000 mechanical mamba used for those scenes where the snake gets up close and personal with the cast, a real Black Mamba was also used in the filming of certain scenes for purposes of authenticity. David Ball, the reptile curator at the London Zoo, was hired by the producers for this purpose. The snake took direction very well- rearing, hissing and adopting threat postures on cue. This film is highly underrated. It has all the classic elements of a good suspense thriller along with an excellent cast of distinguished actors. The photography and editing are superb and convey a sense of claustrophobic terror. The sequence where Louise the maid gets bitten is one of the most nerve-wracking and disturbing things I've ever seen on film. In this, the producers did their homework well. This is how you die when you're bitten by a Black Mamba. Once you see it, you'll never forget it. If you want nail-biting, edge of your seat suspense, check out this minor gem. I give it a 10 out of 10. A word of caution, though- don't see it alone and don't turn out the lights and try to go to sleep afterward- at least not before checking under the bed.