VENOM
UK, 1982, 88 minutes, Colour.
Klaus Kinski, Oliver Reed, Susan George, Nicol Williamson, Sarah Miles, Sterling Hayden.
Directed by Piers Haggard.
Venom is an entertaining international British thriller. It has the atmosphere of so many British police films and episodes of television series. It also has a background of international terrorism which is combined with animal menace in the form of a black mamba. There is an excellent cast - almost too strong for this kind of film. The direction is by Piers Haggard whose film credits include Wedding Night and The Fiendish Plot of Dr. Fu Manchu. His television credits include Pennies From Heaven.
1. An enjoyable blend of police thriller, international terrorist film, animal menace?
2. British production values: London photography, the street, the apartment, British style and manners, British police methods? Colour photography, special effects, especially for the viewpoint of the mamba? Musical score?
3. The strong international cast lending credibility to the film, quality?
4. The establishing of the household, the mother and her spoiling her son, the grandfather and his reputation, achievement in hunting, knowledge of Africa and animals? Wealth? international business? Philip and his asthma, his pets? The maid and her role in the house, her work as a nanny? The chauffeur and his work? The wealthy family?
5. Dave and Louise and their work in the house, their influence, their plan? Relationship? Sexual liaison and Louise’s hold over Dave? The preparations for the kidnap? Their being thwarted by accident? Philip and his outing, the mistake about the snakes, the plans going wrong, Dave's panic, Louise's death? Jacmel and his control?
6. Philip and his relationship with his mother, with his grandfather? The scenes between the two - discussions, going to bed, prayers etc.? His going out for the snake? The build-up to his return? The death of the policeman and the siege? His being terrorised? Rising to the occasion? The final reunion with his mother?
7. The background of terrorism: Jacmel and his contacts, his arrival, his control? The appointment with Anderson and his breaking it? His entry into the house? Reaction to Louise's death? The clashes with Dave? Growing tension? The treatment of Anderson and Philip? The problem of the snake? The taking in of Dr. Stowe - and the device of sending out her finger? Having her on the balcony? His discussion with the police? His drive for success? The ugliness of his death with the mamba? Dave and his nerves going, drinking, hostility and violence, the death of the policeman? His going into the cellar and his death?
9. Anderson and his place in the household, care of Philip, remedies for asthma? The rendezvous in the hotel? His searching of the house for the mamba? Helping Dr. Stowe? His action in the finale?
10. The sketch of Dr. Stowe, her daughter and relationship with her? Skill with the snakes? Concern about the mistake? Her coming to the siege? Her willingness to be taken? Her being terrorised? Bulloch and his command, style, control of the situation, cups of coffee, issuing orders, discussing with Jacmel? Ideas? The siege? The cars and the money? The maps and the cellars? The shooting of Dave? The mistake about Dr. Stowe? The analysis of the finger? Coping with Ruth? A sketch of the British policeman?
12. The mamba and audience response to snakes, venom? The mamba as a character - the subjective camera for its slithering around the house? Louise's death, Dave's death, the fight with Jacmel? The irony of the next mamba in the vent?
13. The film's attention to detail - especially in the supporting characters: the woman at the pet shop, the taxi driver for Philip, the neighbours, the various policemen, the expert on snakes from the zoo? Their contribution to the realism of the film? The blend of the real and the contrived? Suspense and terror?
