I Watch Films: The Lair Of The White Worm

 

The Lair Of The White Worm

Sisters Mary and Eve Trent run a Bed And Breakfast at Mercy Farm, formerly the site of a convent. Angus Flint (Peter Capaldi) is an archaeology student doing a dig on the site; he discovers a giant snake head.

Going to a ball at the Manor House, lord of the manor James d’Ampton (Hugh Grant) recreates in dance form the legend of the d’Ampton worm, who his ancestor slew. When a pocket watch that belonged to the Trent’s missing father turns up in Stonerich cavern they all decide to investigate.

While they’re out exotic, enigmatic Lady Sylvia Marsh (Amanda Donohue), who lives in Temple House arrives, and going into Mercy Farm steal the skull. She also spits on the crucifix; this later gives Eve odd visions, including nuns being raped by Roman soldiers and a serpent on a cross.

Lady Sylvia is, of course, an immortal snake priestess, seducing, paralysing and sacrificing victims for her god Dionn. There’s something about virginity, and ancient legend, and her venom not only gives visions it can control people. The whole thing is magnificent, rather silly and quite spooking in turn.

Watch This: Stylish supernatural horror with comic elements
Don’t Watch This: Wavers between the absurd and the gorily horrific
Loosely Based: On a Bram Stoker novel that I've read but not written about; in any case that novel is significantly more racist