Studio: Lionsgate
Release Date: 5/14/2024 – Walmart Exclusive
Rating: R
Film Grade: B
The Story: Archeologist Angus Flint is busy at work excavating a site on the grounds of a British bed and breakfast when he uncovers a large reptilian skull. It’s a remarkable discovery, having been unearthed at a shallow depth that excludes it from having been from a dinosaur. As a guest of the recently orphaned girls running the B&B, Angus accompanies them to a local shindig that night. It’s an annual celebration commemorating the slaying of a dragon by the lord of the land centuries earlier. Their host, Lord James D’Ampton, recounts the story, taking pride in being a direct descendent of the victorious hero.
Could there be a connection between the unearthed skull and legend of old? And what about those recent disappearances?
My Take: Very loosely based on Brahm Stoker’s novel blended with the actual English legend of the Lambton Worm, it plays out as an adventure tale with horror elements. At a brisk 94 minutes, there is a surprisingly generous amount of story contained in that runtime. The movie weaves together three plot lines, adding new information and clues along the way.
All of the characters are both interesting and distinct. We get a brash young English lord played by Hugh Grant. Peter Capaldi is the inquisitive Scottish archeologist. But it’s Amanda Donohoe who owns this movie as the vampish Lady Sylvia Marsh, gleefully embracing and throwing herself completely into the seductively diabolical role. All three characters are smartly written, contrary to what we see all too often in horror movies.
While lesser known, there’s no doubt that this is a Ken Russell film. Doses of nudity intermixed with blasphemous imagery are used in the surrealistic visions sprinkled throughout the movie. While tame when compared to his other films, or contemporary works, they’re used in an effective way to create the flavor and mood of the story he wants to bring. Naughty? Definitely, but not for the prurient sake of simply being bawdy, it’s woven into the story itself.
There is an unmistakable element of camp written into the script that adds a strong dose of absurdity and humor to the affair. There is a risk of that detracting from the film. Those of us familiar with just how much sound can be wrangled out an old hi-fi system or those with knowledge of the purpose it’s employed may roll our eyes at how a phonograph is used here, for example. You’ll have to look past those quibbles to get the most out of it, and embrace it for the fun it contains.
Production values are about what you would expect for a low-budget movie from the 1980s. Blue screen effects are prevalent for the hallucination scenes, and while they have their defects, they’re acceptable within that context. The practical special effects are uneven, ranging from believable to hokey, but they do convey the intent of the story in an imaginative way. And, if you’re able to embrace the campy aspect of the movie, they’re perfectly fitting.
Video: The film origins of this movie are clear in this re-release. That’s not a knock in any way as it faithfully represents how it looked when released. Grain is present, and thankfully not scrubbed out of the image. It has an overall earthy feel to it, fitting for both the subject and setting. Dark scenes are clear and moody, and location shots really bring you to the English countryside.
Audio: The disc features the original stereo mix, so there’s not much surround activity to be found, even when employing my HTP-1’s reliable DTS Neural: X upmixer. That said, dialog is clear. There’s a featured folk song that is catchy fun and the score offers a good feel of tension when needed. The overall sound is representative of the horror movies of that era, and even reminiscent of some of those old Hammer films.
Special Features: I really enjoyed the interviews with the crew recounting the production of the movie. Shot on the infamous Elstree Studios, they convey the excitement and enthusiasm of young artists just getting their start. They also give some insight about what it was like to work with such a notorious director. Well worth watching if you’re a fan of how movies are made.
o Audio Commentaries:
- Director Ken Russell
- Lisi Russell, in conversation with Film Historian Matthew Melia
o Featurette: “Worm Food: The Effects of The Lair of the White Worm”
o Interviews
- “Cutting for Ken” with Editor Peter Davies
- “Mary, Mary” with Actress Sammi Davis
o Trailers and Gallery
- “Trailers from Hell” featuring Producer Dan Ireland
- Theatrical Trailers
- Still Gallery
Final Verdict: This was a genuinely fun movie to watch. Not strictly horror, and not strictly a comedy, it balances its way along that line, neither taking itself too seriously, nor bereft of horrible consequences. Filmed in a more innocent time, the provocative scenes feel less outrageous today, but still convey Russell’s intended tone.
Literary allusions abound for observant viewers, and the movie is packed with symbolism (some all too obvious) designed to reinforce the deeper themes contained in what might look like a simple toss-off film. While not integral to one’s enjoyment of the movie, it does add something extra.
I had missed out on this one when it first came out, but I think I’m more appreciative of it now than I would have been back then. I didn’t expect my wife to think much of it, but she was surprised at just what a fun romp this was.
The SteelBook packaging is gorgeous, featuring the signature images of the devilish Lady Marsh and the titular creature. Collectors will want to give this one a look.
Fun Quote: “So, you've taken to our local specialty. Pickled earthworms in aspic is not to everyone's taste, I can tell you.”
My Review System:JVC DLA-RS3100 4K Ultra High-Definition Front Projector
Elite Screens Sable Frame B2 117” Width with Infinitely Variable Height
Monolith by Monoprice HTP-1 16 Channel Processor with Dirac Live
Monolith by Monoprice 7x200 Watts Amp
Monolith by Monoprice 3x200 Watts + 6x100 Watts Amp
JBL Studio 590 for Left, Center, Right, Wides, and Rears
JBL Studio 580 for Side Surrounds
JBL Studio SCS 8 for Tops
JTR Captivator 1400 Subwoofer X 4
Panasonic DP-UB420 4K Ultra HD Blu-ray Player
Oppo BDP-93
NVIDIA Shield Android TV - 4K
Xbox One X
HTPC Running madVR (work in progress)
Remote: URC MX-780
Mini DSP 2X4 HD controlling all subwoofers
APC S15 Power Conditioner with Battery Backup
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