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The Serpent and the Rainbow

  • 1988
  • R
  • 1h 38m
IMDb RATING
6.4/10
29K
YOUR RATING
Bill Pullman in The Serpent and the Rainbow (1988)
Trailer for this thriller directed by Wes Craven
Play trailer1:22
4 Videos
53 Photos
Folk HorrorSupernatural HorrorZombie HorrorFantasyHorror

An anthropologist goes to Haiti to research a drug that makes someone appear dead by suspending all vital signs.An anthropologist goes to Haiti to research a drug that makes someone appear dead by suspending all vital signs.An anthropologist goes to Haiti to research a drug that makes someone appear dead by suspending all vital signs.

  • Director
    • Wes Craven
  • Writers
    • Wade Davis
    • Richard Maxwell
    • Adam Rodman
  • Stars
    • Bill Pullman
    • Cathy Tyson
    • Zakes Mokae
  • See production info at IMDbPro
    • IMDb RATING
    6.4/10
    29K
    YOUR RATING
    • Director
      • Wes Craven
    • Writers
      • Wade Davis
      • Richard Maxwell
      • Adam Rodman
    • Stars
      • Bill Pullman
      • Cathy Tyson
      • Zakes Mokae
    • 132User reviews
    • 127Critic reviews
    • 64Metascore
  • See production info at IMDbPro
    • Awards
      • 1 nomination total

    Videos4

    The Serpent and the Rainbow
    Trailer 1:22
    The Serpent and the Rainbow
    The Serpent And The Rainbow: Buried In Blood
    Clip 2:18
    The Serpent And The Rainbow: Buried In Blood
    The Serpent And The Rainbow: Buried In Blood
    Clip 2:18
    The Serpent And The Rainbow: Buried In Blood
    The Serpent And The Rainbow: Interview With Sfx Artist Dave Anderson
    Clip 1:06
    The Serpent And The Rainbow: Interview With Sfx Artist Dave Anderson
    Bill Pullman Tells Us the Scariest Co-Star He's Ever Worked With
    Video 2:26
    Bill Pullman Tells Us the Scariest Co-Star He's Ever Worked With

    Photos53

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    + 45
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    Top Cast63

    Bill Pullman
    Bill Pullman
    • Dennis Alan
    Cathy Tyson
    Cathy Tyson
    • Marielle Duchamp
    Zakes Mokae
    Zakes Mokae
    • Dargent Peytraud
    Paul Winfield
    Paul Winfield
    • Lucien Celine
    Brent Jennings
    Brent Jennings
    • Louis Mozart
    Conrad Roberts
    Conrad Roberts
    • Christophe
    Badja Djola
    Badja Djola
    • Gaston
    Theresa Merritt
    Theresa Merritt
    • Simone
    Michael Gough
    Michael Gough
    • Schoonbacher
    Paul Guilfoyle
    Paul Guilfoyle
    • Andrew Cassedy
    Dey Young
    Dey Young
    • Mrs. Cassedy
    Aleta Mitchell
    • Celestine
    William Newman
    William Newman
    • French Missionary Doctor
    Jaime Pina
    • Julio
    • (as Jaime Piña Gautier)
    Evencio Mosquera Slaco
    • Old Shaman
    Kimberleigh Aarn
    • Margrite
    • (as Kimberleigh Burroughs)
    Philogen Thomas
    • Priest
    Ana Rosa Smith Avila
    • Mulatto Nurse
    • Director
      • Wes Craven
    • Writers
      • Wade Davis
      • Richard Maxwell
      • Adam Rodman
    • All cast & crew
    • Production, box office & more at IMDbPro

    User reviews132

    6.428.7K
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    Summary

    Reviewers say 'The Serpent and the Rainbow' Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit, sed do eiusmod tempor incididunt ut labore et dolore magna aliqua. Ut enim ad minim veniam, quis nostrud exercitation ullamco laboris nisi ut aliquip ex ea commodo consequat. Duis aute irure dolor in reprehenderit in voluptate velit esse cillum dolore eu fugiat nulla pariatur. Excepteur sint occaecat cupidatat non proident, sunt in culpa qui officia deserunt mollit anim id est laborum. Curabitur pretium tincidunt lacus.

    Nulla facilisi etiam dignissim diam quis enim lobortis scelerisque
    Lorem ipsum dolorSit amet consecteturAdipiscing elitSed do eiusmodTempor incididuntUt labore et doloreMagna aliquaUt enim ad minimVeniam quisNostrud exercitation
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    Related interests

    Florence Pugh in Midsommar (2019)
    Folk Horror
    Daveigh Chase in The Ring (2002)
    Supernatural Horror
    Pedro Pascal in Long, Long Time (2023)
    Zombie Horror
    Elijah Wood in The Lord of the Rings: The Fellowship of the Ring (2001)
    Fantasy
    Mia Farrow in Rosemary's Baby (1968)
    Horror

    Storyline

    Did you know

    • Trivia
      Newly wed, Bill Pullman's wife was invited to be an extra and appears on screen as the blonde who pushes a long needle through a willing man's cheek.
    • Goofs
      At about the 1:05 mark a computer screen shows the word "specimen" misspelled as "speciman".
    • Quotes
      • Dennis Alan: Don't let them bury me! I'm not dead!
    • Crazy credits
      [Opening card] In the legends of voodoo the Serpent is a symbol of Earth. The Rainbow is a symbol of Heaven. Between the two, all creatures must live and die. But because he has a soul Man can be trapped in a terrible place Where death is only the beginning. The following is inspired by a true story.
    • Alternate versions
      UK video and DVD versions are cut by 5 seconds by the BBFC to remove shots of cock-fighting (illegal animal cruelty).
    • Connections
      Featured in At the Movies with Ebert & Roeper: Shoot to Kill/The Serpent and the Rainbow/She's Having a Baby/The Unbearable Lightness of Being/School Daze (1988)
    • Soundtracks
      Madame Marcel
      Performed by Le Roi Coupe Cloue
      Courtesy of Chancy Records

    Top picks

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    FAQ1

    • What are the differences between the old British BBFC 18 Version and the Uncensored Version?

    Details

    • Release date
      • February 5, 1988 (United States)
    • Country of origin
      • United States
    • Languages
      • English
      • French
      • Spanish
    • Also known as
      • La serpiente y el arcoiris
    • Filming locations
      • Santo Domingo, Dominican Republic
    • Production company
      • Universal Pictures
    • See more company credits at IMDbPro

    Box office

    • Budget
      • $7,000,000 (estimated)
    • Gross US & Canada
      • $19,595,031
    • Opening weekend US & Canada
      • $5,848,700
      • Feb 7, 1988
    • Gross worldwide
      • $19,595,031
    See detailed box office info on IMDbPro

    Tech specs

    • Runtime
      • 1h 38m(98 min)
    • Color
      • Color
    • Sound mix
      • Dolby Stereo
    • Aspect ratio
      • 1.85 : 1

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