[Demdike@Cult Labs]

Originally Posted by Demdike@Cult Labs

Venom (1981)

Growing up in the early 80's was different to how it is now. One of the main reasons being just three, then four television channels. However those channels used to show what i consider to be almost mythical films and programmes. The kind you got a sneaky watch of that would then stay with you for the rest of your life. Piers Haggard's Venom was one of those films.

My main memory was of a dangerous Black Mamba snake slithering around inside a large London townhouse populated by crooks, then appearing occasionally to bite and poison some unfortunate soul to their death.

In truth i found out that was the basic premise to Venom as well, having just watched it last night courtesy of Blue Underground's dvd for the first time since those heady days of the eighties. The film is fairly basic in plot set up with the whole thing being a siege with kidnappers inside and police outside, plus of course, one deadly snake.

The film has a great cast from the time including Sterling Hayden, Oliver Reed, Klaus Kinski, Susan George, Sarah Miles and Nicol Williamson, plus the supporting cast are mainly all well known which proves a treat for those who like to star spot. However the film kind of lets this terrific ensemble down a little. Whilst it has suspense it's perhaps a little light on thrills as snake attacks aside not an awful lot happens following the first half hour ,with the middle third playing out as a shouting match between Reed and Kinski with the excitement of the siege not coming into play until the final third. When they come the snake attacks are still savage and indeed gruesome and i realize why they ingrained their selves on my mind as an impressionable kid.

Venom is a solid British thriller, competent, interesting and intermittently exciting rather than brilliant, but well worth having in any collection of British cinema.

Just watched this again and would definitely up my appraisal of it. I don't give scores but if i judged it as a six and a half first time round then it would be nearer eight now.