jfarms1956 The Lair of the White Worm is principally geared for those between the ages of 13 and 40. It is a horror movie with the worm being the monster. If you don't like snake movies, don't watch. If you don't like British movies, don't watch. The film is best enjoyed either on rainy afternoons or late at night -- other films are better for prime time. The film moves along at an okay pace, a little slow. Hugh Grant is less than amazing in this film, however, the acting in this film is truly atrocious. The storyline is okay. It is a decent horror film. There is no real blood and guts, at least not much at all. But, the movie is entertaining and provides a good movie to watch with friends if you would like or a perfect movie for teen get-togethers. Enjoy.

don-376 As a horror movie fan of many years I don't know why I haven't watched this before - probably because I can't stand the pseudo intellectual nonsense that pervades Ken Russell films. I was prepared to be proved wrong by this film, but alas it is the usual KR pretentious Micky-take. The first thing that strikes is some of the most inept acting in a big budget film. I'm not sure what accents Catherine Oxenberg and Sammi Davis are supposed to have but they are appalling. Hugh Grant is... well Hugh Grant really. It doesn't matter whether it horror or comedy (this is both) he plays the same role in every film. Then the trademark "imagery" starts to take over, which I'm sure delights those who like to think they can read significance into them, but is in reality just plain silly. Emperors New Cloths.Avoid if a horror fan.

BA_Harrison Before Hugh Grant hit the big-time playing floppy-haired fops in rom-coms, he mostly played floppy haired-fops in costume period dramas; an exception to this was Ken Russell's The Lair of The White Worm (1988), in which Hugh went against type by playing modern-day floppy-haired fop Lord James D'Ampton, who teams up with archaeologist Angus Flint (played by the new Doctor Who, Peter Capaldi) and B&B owner Mary Trent (Sammi Davis) to defeat a pagan snake-woman (Amanda Donohoe) who worships a giant, ancient, subterranean wyrm (another name for dragon).This being a Russell movie, there is plenty of surreal weirdness on offer, with psychedelic dream sequences, Christian-baiting blasphemous imagery, phallic symbolism, and cheap titillation courtesy of Donohoe, who spends a lot of her time naked, and Catherine Oxenberg, who is stripped to her undies as a sacrifice for the creature. However, what could have been extremely controversial actually proves to be rather amusing thanks to the director's tongue-in-cheek B-movie approach (some might call it 'camp') and the tacky special effects; ultimately, this is silly, harmless fun for the cult movie crowd.6.5 out of 10, rounded up to 7 for the Concorde dream sequence, which is downright trippy.

Neil Welch Ken Russell meets Bram Stoker. And the result is a Victorian horror story, adapted to be played as "Carry On White Worm".While it has a nice period feel in terms of look, it is absolutely over the top in delivery. Amanda Donohoe, in particular (during her "If the money is right, I will consider keeping my clothes on in this film" phase), has her tongue so firmly in her cheek she can barely utter her lines. While there are undoubtedly some valid horror movie moments, there are considerably more moments which are hysterically funny.It is interesting to see Hugh Grant, pre Four Weddings, playing pretty much the same character he has played in every film since, albeit his straight playing suits the piece - there is something endearing about at least one of the characters taking everything seriously at face value, albeit with an air of slight bemusement at having seemingly wandered into something from a parallel universe.It is worth observing that the other female cast members are dreadful: Sammie Winmill acts away for all she's worth, at a standard which wouldn't pass muster at a primary school Nativity play, and Catherine Oxenberg doesn't even act, possibly because she can't.This is one of the daftest, most extravagantly enjoyable horror films out there, and is well worth catching. Just don't take it seriously, and you won't be disappointed.