Review of The Serpent and the Rainbow (1988) by Brad G — 21 Oct 2009
There is no escape from the grave.
Dennis Alan has been sent to Haiti in the early 80s by a pharmaceutical company to investigate a potential anesthesia medication. The drug supposedly causes people to go into a zombie-like state and subsequently misdiagnosed and buried alive. When Dennis arrives in Haiti, he is quickly engulfed in a war between those making the medication and the Haitian medical staff who want to use the product for good. Will Alan benefit from the product or become one of its victims?
?What people see and what they say are very different matters.?
Wes Craven, director of The Last House on the Left, The Hills Have Eyes I & II, A Nightmare on Elm Street, Chiller, Shocker, A Vampire in Brooklyn, Scream 1 through 3, Cursed, Red Eye, and the upcoming 25/8, delivers Serpent and the Rainbow. The storyline for this picture is fascinating and well delivered. The content was wonderfully original and the settings were remarkable. The cast was well selected and included Bill Pullman (Lake Placid), Paul Winfield (Cliffhanger), and Zakes Mokae (Water World).
?There are secrets we keep even from ourselves.?
The content for this film is extremely unique to the genre and had great promise for 80% of the film; however, the film falls apart at its conclusion. Initially, the film is about the zombie powder and its abilities, and then the conclusion depicts an animal life force and a psychic ability allowing individuals to control inanimate objects. I do recommend seeing this film, but this does not live up to its potential.
?I feel the darkness and the cold closing in on me.?
Grade: C+.
This review of The Serpent and the Rainbow (1988) was written by Brad G on 21 Oct 2009.
The Serpent and the Rainbow has generally received positive reviews.
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