The Serpent and the Rainbow (1988)

Director:

Wes Craven

Writers:

Wade Davis (inspired by the book)
Richard Maxwell (screenplay) ...
(more)

Release Date:

5 February 1988 (USA)

Genre:

Horror | Thriller

Tagline:

Don't bury me...I'm not dead!

Plot:

An anthropologist goes to Haiti after hearing rumors about a drug used by black magic practitioners to turn people into zombies.

Plot Keywords:

Haiti | Anthropologist | Magic | Zombie | Spider

Awards:

1 nomination

Cast

Bill Pullman	...	Dennis Alan
Cathy Tyson	...	Marielle Duchamp
Zakes Mokae	...	Dargent Peytraud
Paul Winfield	...	Lucien Celine
Brent Jennings	...	Louis Mozart
Conrad Roberts	...	Christophe
Badja Djola	...	Gaston
Theresa Merritt	...	Simone
Michael Gough	...	Schoonbacher
Paul Guilfoyle	...	Andrew Cassedy
Dey Young	...	Mrs. Cassedy
Aleta Mitchell	...	Celestine
William Newman	...	French Missionary Doctor
Jaime Pina Gautier	...	Julio
Evencio Mosquera Slaco	...	Old Shaman
Kimberleigh Aarn	...	Margrite (as Kimberleigh Burroughs)
Philogen Thomas	...	Priest
Ana Rosa Smith Avila	...	Mulatto Nurse
Francis Guinan	...	American Doctor
Sally-Anne Munn	...	Nurse / Intern
Jean-Baptiste Rosvelt	...	Black Waiter
Robert De James	...	Old Lame Peasant
Jackson Delgado	...	Possessed Dancer
Barbara Guillaume	...	Mozart's Whore
Betty García Rodríguez	...	Pretty Whore
Luis Tavare Pesquera	...	Kyle Cassedy
Claudia Pimentel	...	Old Crone
Michael Jackson	...	Newscaster
Diamanda Galas	...	Voices of the Dead (voice)
Ti-Blanc	...	Lucien's Dancers Master of Ceremonies
Marie Carmel Noel	...	Glass Eater
Frantz Thomas	...	Coal Eater
Johnny Pephanon	...	Man With Needles (as Johnny Pephanor)
Lucienne Charles	...	Houngan Dancer
Suzette Cajusle	...	Houngan Dancer (as Suzette Cajuste)
Rosemary Sylvain	...	Houngan Dancer
Iversose Beuville	...	Houngan Dancer (as Iverose Beuville)
Maxo Fercilien	...	Houngan Dancer
Jacques Achilles	...	Houngan Dancer
Francesco Chavez	...	Houngan Dancer (as Francisco Chavez)
Saveur D'Orlean	...	Houngan Drummer (as Sauveur D'Orlean)
Maurice Altenor	...	Houngan Drummer
Miguel Valdez	...	Houngan Drummer
Elías Gastavo	...	Houngan Drummer (as Elías Gustavo)
Harold Désiré	...	Houngan Drummer
Buche	...	Bizango Dancers Master of Ceremonies
Providenia Alcántara	...	Bizango Dancers Lead Singer (as Providencia Alcántara)
Dikatel Charles	...	Bizango Dancer
Ana Ramirez	...	Bizango Dancer
Rosa Bautista	...	Bizango Dancer
Juliana José	...	Bizango Dancer
Josiana Sant Louis	...	Bizango Dancer
Jean Pierre	...	Bizango Dancer
Otilio Nerius	...	Bizango Dancer
Venat Ruis	...	Bizango Dancer
Ramon Cherry	...	Bizango Dancer
Rosa Charles	...	Bizango Dancer
Luis Telemako	...	Bizango Drummer
Federico Núñez	...	Bizango Drummer
Americo José	...	Bizango Drummer
Gérard Matonbe	...	Bizango Drummer
Robert Regaldo	...	Bizango Drummer

Directed by
Wes Craven

Writing credits
Wade Davis		(inspired by the book)
Richard Maxwell		(screenplay) and
Adam Rodman		(screenplay) (as A.R. Simoun)

Produced by
Keith Barish	....	executive producer
Doug Claybourne	....	producer
Rob Cohen	....	executive producer
Robert Engelman	....	co-producer
David Ladd	....	producer

Original Music by
Brad Fiedel

Cinematography by
John Lindley

Film Editing by
Glenn Farr

Casting by
Dianne Crittenden

Production Design by
David Nichols

Art Direction by
David Brisbin

Costume Design by
Peter Mitchell

Makeup Department
David LeRoy Anderson	....	special makeup effects artist (as Dave Anderson)
Lance Anderson	....	special makeup effects artist
Jeffrey S. Farley	....	makeup technician
Robert Hallowell II	....	key hair stylist
James Kagel	....	makeup technician
Leonard MacDonald	....	makeup technician
Jim McPherson	....	makeup technician

Second Unit Director or Assistant Director
Rob Cohen	....	second unit director
Robert Engelman	....	first assistant director

Art Department
Ken Counts	....	construction cordinator
Chris Snyder	....	construction foreman: reshoots
Charles Stewart	....	property master

Sound Department
Andy Aaron	....	sound effects recordist
Gregg Barbanell	....	foley artist
Jay Boekelheide	....	sound designer
Gary C. Bourgeois	....	sound re-recording mixer
Bruce Fortune	....	sound editor
Brian Hackett	....	sound assistant: second unit
Dorian Harris	....	adr editor
Cliff Latimer	....	dialogue editor
Mary Helen Leasman	....	foley editor
John Morris	....	sound editor
Dean Okrand	....	sound re-recording mixer
Troy Porter	....	foley mixer
Don Summer	....	sound mixer

Special Effects by
Peter Chesney	....	special effects coordinator
Robin L. D'Arcy	....	special effects coordinator: Image Engineering
Emmet Kane	....	special effects technician
Sandra Stewart	....	special effects assistant

Visual Effects by
Japhet Asher	....	visual effects producer
Gary Gutierrez	....	visual effects supervisor

Stunts
Anthony Cecere	....	stunt coordinator
Anthony Cecere	....	stunts: fire gag
Eric Chambers	....	stunts (as Erik Chambers)
Dane Farwell	....	stunts
Al Lee	....	stunts
Irving E. Lewis	....	stunts (as Irwin Lewis)
Eric Mansker	....	stunts (as Erik Mansker)
Perry Nichols	....	stunts
Mark Orrison	....	stunts
Debby Lynn Ross	....	stunts
Marvin Walters	....	stunts
Ray Woodfork	....	stunts
Dane Farwell	....	stunt double: Bill Pullman (uncredited)

Camera and Electrical Department
George A. Hock	....	electrician
Lawrence Karman	....	first assistant camera
Dwight Joseph Lavers	....	dolly grip
Larry McCarron	....	grip
Michael A. McFadden	....	electrician
Rick Fee	....	first assistant camera (uncredited)

Costume and Wardrobe Department
Shawn Barry	....	costume supervisor
Lynda Foote	....	set costumer

Editorial Department
Peter Amundson	....	first assistant editor
James A. Brewer	....	apprentice editor
Mike Murphy	....	assistant editor

Music Department
Tim Boyle	....	score mixer
Mary Patrao	....	assistant music editor
Robert Randles	....	music editor

Transportation Department
Hugh Kelly	....	transportation co-captain

Other crew
Nora Dunfee	....	dialect coach
Patrick Kohouten	....	utility stand-in (as Patrick Kohoutek)
Marianne Maddalena	....	assistant: Mr. Craven
Trish McCall	....	utility stand-in
Ren Navez	....	location manager
Musset Payant	....	utility stand-in
Jill Simpson	....	assistant to producers
Carmen Soriano	....	script supervisor
Gerry Therrien	....	animal coordinator
Robbie Tucker	....	production associate

Production Companies

• Serpent and the Rainbow
• Universal Pictures

Distributors

• Universal Pictures (1988) (USA) (theatrical)
• Universal Pictures Canada (1988) (Canada) (theatrical)
• Image Entertainment (USA) (DVD)
• MCA/Universal Home Video (USA) (VHS)
• MCA/Universal Home Video (USA) (laserdisc)

Special Effects

• Colossal Pictures (special visual effects)
• Image Engineering (special mechanical effects)
• USFX (special visual effects)

Also Known As:

"The Wes Craven's Serpent and the Rainbow" - Australia
"La serpiente y el arco iris" - Argentina, Peru (imdb display title), Spain
"A Maldição dos Mortos-Vivos" - Brazil, Portugal
"A kígyó és a szivárvány" - Hungary (imdb display title)
"Die Schlange im Regenbogen" - West Germany
"I gravens dybe stille ro" - Denmark (imdb display title)
"Il serpente e l'arcobaleno" - Italy
"Käärme ja sateenkaari" - Finland
"L'emprise des ténèbres" - France
"La serpiente y el arcoiris" - Mexico
"Ormen och regnbågen" - Sweden
"Voodoo" - Greece (transliterated ISO-LATIN-1 title)
"Waz i tecza" - Poland (imdb display title)
"Yilan ve gökkusagi" - Turkey (Turkish title)
"Zmija i duga" - Serbia (imdb display title)

Runtime:

98 min

Country:

USA

Language:

English | French | Spanish

Color:

Color

Aspect Ratio:

1.85 : 1

Sound Mix:

Dolby

Certification:

Iceland:16 | Singapore:M18 | Brazil:14 | Sweden:15 | Canada:R (Ontario) | Chile:18 (Original rating) | Chile:TE (TV rating) | Portugal:M/16 | Spain:13 | Philippines:R-18 | Italy:T | Argentina:18 | Australia:M | France:-12 | Norway:18 | UK:18 (cut) | USA:R | West Germany:18 | Finland:K-18 | Finland:K-16 (cut)

Filming Locations:

Boston, Massachusetts, USA

Company:

Serpent and the Rainbow

Trivia:

Author Wade Davis agreed to sell the book rights on the condition that Peter Weir direct and Mel Gibson star. Neither man had any involvement in the project.

Goofs:

Errors in geography: At Captain Peytraud's first meeting with Dr. Alan, Peytraud wears his full Haitan Tonton Macoute uniform including a row of several award ribbons. All of these ribbons are in fact United States armed forces decorations - clearly visible are the Vietnam Service Medal, Korean Service Medal, Air Force Overseas Ribbon, and the Army Good Conduct Medal.

Quotes:

[Doctor Allen is straped in a chair about to be tortured]
Dennis Alan:I'm a U.S. citizen! Think about that!
Dargent Peytraud:I don't see the Ambassador here, do you?

Movie Connections:

Featured in "Taboo: Voodoo (#1.4)" (2002)

Soundtrack:

Ma Bouya

A Touch of Style

I remember watching "The Serpent and the Rainbow" in a cinema when it opened 12 years ago, and although it did not strike me as a masterpiece, I never forgot it. I had always had a memory of it as a good horror film, but tonight I saw it again on television and I was impressed about how good it is. One may associate Wes Craven with "Scream" or "A Nightmare on Elm Street", but this one is certainly one of his best films. I still see it as an adventure film with horror elements, but this time I found it full of style -a touch of documentary approach, clever use of colorful locations, good handling of massive scenes with many unprofessional extras, attractive ethnic art direction, a bit of grand guignol in some performances (mainly Zakes Mokae), humor and a sensitive and sympathetic approach to a different culture. Many times one sees American films dealing with others' cultural aspects -such as political affairs and religion-, without any respect or concern. It is true that "The Serpent and the Rainbow" is not a serious drama about people's revolt, or a tract on synchretic religions (such as Cuban santería, Haitian voodoo or Brazilian candomblé), but both aspects are not just décors, but elements well integrated to the story in its own terms -that is, in a low budget feature, whose main objective is to entertain and scare the audience. The so-called "South" is such an exotic locale for most First World filmgoers, that cultural "details" often pass unnoticed, because these persons seem to be too obsessed with their own "cinematic hedonism". Craven knows it, and that is why he makes foreign tourists applaud when they have seen a real possession, thinking it is just part of Paul Winfield's show. One of the reasons that this film is good is the script. Someone mentions in another comment how cleverly it introduces more than one level in a single scene: for example, when Dennis and Marielle are looking for Christophe in a cemetery, they not only meet grave robbers for scaring effect, but they also discuss about the possibility that Marielle is using Dennis to obtain funds for her hospital, and the scene fulfills its expectation: they find Christophe, who tells them about the mysterious 'powder'. What turns off some viewers -and myself, in a way- is the cinematic forms that take all the things dealing with energy and human capacity for evil. They are sometimes too gross, others just plain funny or ridiculous; but this is a Craven film, and they did not detract me from the main objective I mentioned earlier. Besides, there are other things I enjoyed watching the film again. First, to see once again the Bill Pullman whom I used to enjoy so much (remember the dumb blond in "Ruthless People"?) when he was beautiful and had not turned into the dull American president of "Independence Day." I also recognized elements I've witnessed. A lot of the things that you see and hear in this film are not just fiction (after all it is based on a "true" story): they are all part of many Caribbean cultures -from the sensuality of the islanders, to the rite in the river, or the powder itself. And believe me: the powders work! Not only for making zombies, but also for many other things. Don't ask me how, I do not know how they do it, but I have seen them work (in Cuba -no joke intended)! So beware.