Dennis Allan is an scientist who visits Haiti on the strength of a rumour of a drug which renders the recipient totally paralyzed but conscious. The drug’s effects often fool doctors, who declare the victims dead. Could this be the origin of the “zombie” legend? Alan embarks on a surprising and often surreal investigation of the turbulent social chaos that is Haiti during the revolution which ousted hated dictator “Baby Doc” Duvalier. Often a pawn in a greater game, Alan must decide what is science, what is superstition, and what is the unknown in a anarchistic society where police corruption and witch-doctory are commonplace.

The Serpent and the Rainbow (1988)
  • Rating: (8,898 votes)
  • Tagline:Don't bury me...I'm not dead! »
  • Runtime:98 minutes
  • Director: Wes Craven
  • Country:USA
  • Actors:
    Dennis Alan
    Bill Pullman
    Marielle Duchamp
    Cathy Tyson
    Dargent Peytraud
    Zakes Mokae
    Lucien Celine
    Paul Winfield
    Louis Mozart
    Brent Jennings
    Christophe
    Conrad Roberts
    Gaston
    Badja Djola
    Simone
    Theresa Merritt
    Schoonbacher
    Michael Gough
    Andrew Cassedy
    Paul Guilfoyle
  • Genres:Horror, Thriller
  • Producers:
    Keith Barish
    executive producer  
    Doug Claybourne
    producer  
    Rob Cohen
    executive producer  
    Robert Engelman
    co-producer  
    David Ladd
    producer  
  • Plot: Dennis Allan is a scientist who visits Haiti on the strength of a rumour of a drug which renders the recipient totally paralyzed but conscious. The drug's effects often fool doctors, who declare the victims dead. Could this be the origin of the "zombie" legend? Alan embarks on a surprising and often surreal investigation of the turbulent social chaos that is Haiti during the revolution which ousted hated dictator "Baby Doc" Duvalier. Often a pawn in a greater game, Alan must decide what is science, what is superstition, and what is the unknown in a anarchistic society where police corruption and witch-doctory are commonplace. Written by Murray Chapman <muzzle@cs.uq.oz.au>
  • User's comment: by Mr Parker (spookyscribe@yahoo.com)

    I watched this movie again last night. I have to say that I think it is still pretty scary even after the umpteenth time. There are scenes in this movie that give me the chills just thinking back to them. One in particular, a scene with a veiled bride on a burning boat, always gives me the willies. Never fails. I happen to think that this is one of the better overlooked horror movies that I know of. It's not Wes Craven's best but it is still better than average. I strongly recommend this movie to anyone who'd like a couple of good chills.

    "Don't let them bury me! I'm not dead!"

    Priceless.

    Rating: ***1/2 out of *****.


  • Quotes: Dennis Alan: I'm a U.S. citizen! Think about that! Dargent Peytraud: I don't see the Ambassador here, do you? Dargent Peytraud: Ahh, Doctor Allen! Why are you in Haiti, Doctor Allen?
  • Also known as: La serpiente y el arco iris (Argentina), La serpiente y el arco iris (Peru - imdb display title), La serpiente y el arco iris (Spain), A Maldição dos Mortos-Vivos (Brazil), A Maldição dos Mortos-Vivos (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), The Wes Craven's Serpent and the Rainbow (Australia), 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),

What do you think of this movie? Leave a comment.