Search - Venom on DVD

MPAA Rating: R Content Advisory: Violence, Nudity, Not For Children, Adult Language Movie Release: 1982 DVD Release: 07/29/2003 Format: DVD - Enhanced Wide Screen Letterbox for 16x9 TV Audio Tracks: English SwapaDVD Credits: 1 Number of Discs: 1 Run Time: 1 hrs 32 mins Studio: Blue Underground Members Wishing: 8 Genres: Thriller

A big black mamba snake that has gotten loose in a townhouse slithers through a kidnapping plot in this film. Based on a novel by Alan Scholefield, Venom features a big name British cast that seems to be slumming in a B-movie project. Dr. Marion Stowe (Sarah Miles) is a toxicologist who has brought the snake to London to study the properties of its deadly venom. It escapes and terrorizes the inhabitants of the townhouse, where an attempted kidnapping is in progress. Dave (Oliver Reed), Jacmel (Klaus Kinski) and Louise (Susan George) are the villains trying to hold the son of a wealthy family for ransom. Original director Tobe Hooper was replaced by Piers Haggard. ~ Michael Betzold, All Movie Guide

Klaus Kinski - Jacmel
Oliver Reed - Dave
Nicol Williamson - Comd. William Bulloch
Sarah Miles - Dr. Marion Stowe
Sterling Hayden - Howard Anderson
Lance Holcomb - Philip Hopkins

Blue Underground continues its exceptional coverage of underappreciated genre films with the black mamba thriller Venom. Image quality is presented in a soft grain, but sharply colored 1.85:1 widescreen picture, with a 16 x 9 enhancement for widescreen televisions. Audio tracks range from Dolby Digital Surround EX and 2.0 Surround to even a stellar 6.1 DTS ES track. Extras start with Blue Underground's David Gregory moderating an audio commentary with director Piers Haggard, which includes mention of everything from the original Tobe Hooper footage that was canned to the on-set feuds between the two controversial stars Oliver Reed and Klaus Kinski. Forever the British gentleman, Haggard doesn't spill the beans on each and every squabble, but does point out the time constraints and the improvements he would have like to have seen made at numerous points. The talk never gets dry, as there were more than enough setbacks during filming for the famed stage and television director to discuss. Also included is the theatrical trailer and four TV spots, each of which are classic in their own right. Finishing off the disc is a quite-packed poster and stills gallery, which not only includes some of the amazing one sheets (including the original Hooper pre-production ad), but also a collection of French lobby cards and the film's original publicity stills and press book. Add in two talent bios for Reed and Kinski and you have yet another stellar disc from William Lustig and the fine folk at Blue Underground. ~ Jeremy Wheeler, All Movie Guide