The Serpent and the Rainbow
2.5/4
Starring: Bill Pullman, Cathy Tyson, Brent Jennings, Zakes Mokae, Paul Winfield, Paul Guilfoyle, Conrad Roberts
Rated R (probably for Terror Violence/Gore, Language and Some Sexuality)
"The Serpent and the Rainbow" is by turns creepy and frustrating. It contains some truly scary sequences, but the potentially interesting story is rendered mostly inert because of botched storytelling. There are flashes of greatness here, but very little of it is effectively presented.
Dennis Alan (Pullman) is an anthropologist who has just returned from an expedition to the Amazon. His mentor (Michael Gough in a cameo) puts him in touch with Andrew Cassedy (Guilfoyle), a pharmaceutical executive. Cassedy tells Alan an interesting story: more than a decade ago, a man named Christophe (Roberts) died in Haiti and was buried in a coffin. Just a few days ago, the very same man was found walking around town, alive and (sort of) well. Cassedy wants to find out how this is possible so his company can reproduce it and make millions. Alan agrees to go, but staying alive long enough to get the product out is easier said than done.
This movie breaks the cardinal rule of supernatural movies: it doesn't establish a set of rules of what can and cannot happen, and then stick to them. You'd think that it would be easy for a movie with zombies (zombies rise from the dead and are on the constant prowl for human flesh, etc.). But these are voodoo zombies, which according to the film are quite different. There's magic and spirituality involved, and they have more cognitive power than your average ghoul. That's fine, since the zombie genre desperately needs some new life. But Wes Craven never takes the time to explain how it all works, which makes the film confusing. I was so busy trying to figure out how everything was happening that the story never got the chance gain any real traction.
That's a shame because there are some truly horrifying sequences. I'm not talking suspense or terror, like in "The Descent" or "The Innkeepers." This isn't the kind of scary movie of cheap shocks and the fear of what's around the corner. I'm talking true horror and dread where death is more preferable to other alternatives. "The Serpent and the Rainbow" bears more resemblance to "Nosferatu the Vampyre" than "Halloween."
Bill Pullman fails to bring the necessary gravitas and presence to the lead role. He's a decent character actor, but he's ill-equipped to carry a movie on his own. He's constantly outacted by his costars, especially Cathy Tyson. She's excellent, bringing a natural screen appeal that makes her acting seem effortless. Brent Jennings is also great as the colorful voodoo potion master; he's energetic and entertaining. Zakes Mokae is certainly intimidating as a member of Duvalier's Tontons Macoutes who is after Alan for reasons that are never made clear.
Ultimately, "The Serpent and the Rainbow" is more disappointing than bad. It had a lot of potential, but a hobbled screenplay and an inadequate leading man kept it from being something truly special.
Starring: Bill Pullman, Cathy Tyson, Brent Jennings, Zakes Mokae, Paul Winfield, Paul Guilfoyle, Conrad Roberts
Rated R (probably for Terror Violence/Gore, Language and Some Sexuality)
"The Serpent and the Rainbow" is by turns creepy and frustrating. It contains some truly scary sequences, but the potentially interesting story is rendered mostly inert because of botched storytelling. There are flashes of greatness here, but very little of it is effectively presented.
Dennis Alan (Pullman) is an anthropologist who has just returned from an expedition to the Amazon. His mentor (Michael Gough in a cameo) puts him in touch with Andrew Cassedy (Guilfoyle), a pharmaceutical executive. Cassedy tells Alan an interesting story: more than a decade ago, a man named Christophe (Roberts) died in Haiti and was buried in a coffin. Just a few days ago, the very same man was found walking around town, alive and (sort of) well. Cassedy wants to find out how this is possible so his company can reproduce it and make millions. Alan agrees to go, but staying alive long enough to get the product out is easier said than done.
This movie breaks the cardinal rule of supernatural movies: it doesn't establish a set of rules of what can and cannot happen, and then stick to them. You'd think that it would be easy for a movie with zombies (zombies rise from the dead and are on the constant prowl for human flesh, etc.). But these are voodoo zombies, which according to the film are quite different. There's magic and spirituality involved, and they have more cognitive power than your average ghoul. That's fine, since the zombie genre desperately needs some new life. But Wes Craven never takes the time to explain how it all works, which makes the film confusing. I was so busy trying to figure out how everything was happening that the story never got the chance gain any real traction.
That's a shame because there are some truly horrifying sequences. I'm not talking suspense or terror, like in "The Descent" or "The Innkeepers." This isn't the kind of scary movie of cheap shocks and the fear of what's around the corner. I'm talking true horror and dread where death is more preferable to other alternatives. "The Serpent and the Rainbow" bears more resemblance to "Nosferatu the Vampyre" than "Halloween."
Bill Pullman fails to bring the necessary gravitas and presence to the lead role. He's a decent character actor, but he's ill-equipped to carry a movie on his own. He's constantly outacted by his costars, especially Cathy Tyson. She's excellent, bringing a natural screen appeal that makes her acting seem effortless. Brent Jennings is also great as the colorful voodoo potion master; he's energetic and entertaining. Zakes Mokae is certainly intimidating as a member of Duvalier's Tontons Macoutes who is after Alan for reasons that are never made clear.
Ultimately, "The Serpent and the Rainbow" is more disappointing than bad. It had a lot of potential, but a hobbled screenplay and an inadequate leading man kept it from being something truly special.
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