Ray Barrett and Jennifer Daniel inherit a small cottage in Cornwall. Barrett's brother died under mysterious circumstances, and the new couple soon see that people are not very friendly in the country. John Gilling made this the same time he directed Plague of the Zombies. And although that would be the superior of the two films, The Reptile is nonetheless another Hammer horror picture that captures a moody atmosphere filled with distrust and secrets, a talented acting troupe(particularly with regard to the character actors like John Laurie and Michael Ripper), an effective, thought-provoking(though highly implausible) script, good, solid direction, and some of the most credible settings and costumes about. Noel Willman plays a doctor of theology with a daughter that somehow have been involved with a cult of snake people or worshipers or something like that. He has a manservant who treats him as an inferior, played rather deftly by Marne Maitland. The film opens with one of those great Hammer openings as Barret's brother(Played by none other than Harold Pinter) - note in hand - comes running into this palatial English house - only to be attacked with what looks like a human snake. OK, the make-up isn't much to talk about, and if the movie wasn't called The Reptile and snakes were not mentioned - I might have thought it was a human mole too. But special effects or their lack of aside, Gilling does a fine job bringing this material to the screen and creating tense scenes as we see this couple slowly find out the truth. The biggest joy for me to behold was the presence of Michael Ripper again giving one of his solid, earthy performances as an inn keeper who decides to buck the village trend and cooperate with the new couple by telling them what he knows. Ripper has a much bigger role than many of his Hammer films allowed, and I thought he did a superb job creating a caring, frightened man trying to make a go of things in the country. In fact all of the performers give nice, solid performances. I heartily recommend The Reptile if you are a fan of Hammer and its horror film formula. This one keeps the formula in tact and works - really despite an absurd story that Gilling and company manage to pull off in spite of itself.
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BaronBl00d27 March 2005
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poolandrews19 December 2011The Reptile starts as Harry George Spalding (Ray Barrett) & his new wife Valerie (Jennifer Daniel) inherit his brother's cottage after his sudden death put down to heart failure. The couple decide to move into the cottage near a small village in Cornwall & live there, however when they reach the village the locals are less than friendly & after trying to find out more about his brother's untimely death Harry becomes convinced that something strange is going on, the other mysterious death's, a lack of any sort of investigation & the ramblings of a local drunk known as Mad Peter (John Laurie) all point to the sinister Dr. Franklyn (Noel Willman). Harry & the local landlord Tom Bailey (Michael Ripper) discover that all the victims had bite marks on their necks made by some sort of Snake. All the clues point back to Dr. Franklyn & his innocent looking young daughter Anna (Jacqueline Pearce) but when Harry is called to see Anna he is attacked & bitten by some creature...
This British production was directed by John Gilling for Hammer studios & was made at the peak of their popularity, after having filmed versions of Dracula, Frankenstein & The Mummy I guess Hammer were looking to make horror films with some different monsters in which is probably why the likes of The Gorgon (1964), The Plague of the Zombies (1966), Rasputin: The Mad Monk (1966), The Witches (1966) & One Million Years B.C. (1966) were all produced by Hammer in a short space of time. While none of these film has gone on to be as famous as Hammer's Dracula & Frankenstein films they are worth watching & The Reptle is still a very good horror film, maybe a bit slow for modern audiences but if you have the patience & like a sustained build-up, a nice atmosphere & good storytelling then The Reptile delivers. The script starts off very well with the death of Edward Spalding, his brother turning up & investigating his death despite hostility from the locals with some horrible unseen menace lurking in the background that is only hinted at & a nice set of character's that go against expectation by the end. It's just a shame that the climax is weak, I mean the Reptile is defeated by breaking a window? Also the explanations behind the Reptile itself are a little weak too, why does this Reptile want to kill people anyway? For what reason? Why does Anna turn into the Reptile every so often? What triggers her transformation? Despite a few shortcomings in the plot I still liked The reptile & thought it was a solid & satisfying horror suspense film that kept my interest even though I did feel a little shortchanged at the end.
Filmed back to back with Hammers The Plague of the Zombies this reused many of the same sets, cast & crew to good effect in order to save money. I certainly recognised the graveyard & local village sets, while The Plague of the Zombies is the better film both films make for a good double feature & are remarkably similar. Despite wanting to move away from Dracula the effect of the Reptile biting it's victims is two fang wounds in their neck just like a Vampire bite so I guess it's not that different. There's no real blood or gore here, the one big effect is when the Reptile creature is finally revealed towards the end & it doesn't look that bad but probably won't convince many people today. I think the big stationary Bug like eyes really kill the effect. The Reptile drips atmosphere, there's plenty of foggy nights in the small English village where this takes place.
Probably shot on a budget of next to nothing The Reptile looks good & is well made, the acting is pretty good from an unfamiliar looking Hammer cast.
The Reptile is a good solid horror mystery from Hammer that could have done with a little bit more plot but the first hour or so is terrific stuff, it's a just a shame when the Reptile show's up & things are ended in rather weak, lazy & abrupt fashion. -
"The Reptile" is a competently produced and watchable horror entry from Hammer productions but offers little new to the genre. Once again we have new-comers to a district that harbours a deadly secret, who must deal with hostile locals before getting get sucked into events, while ominous music and the classic 'moors' setting establishes tone. The generic characters don't present much of a challenge to the actors (exceptions being John Laurie, whose Mad Peter manages to avoid the usual town-drunk shtick and Jacqueline Pearce, who is very good as the mysterious girl). Sadly, while the movie effectively builds to a climax, the final scenes are marred by the appearance of the titular creature and its sudden anticlimactic death. A fair amount of suspension of belief is required (especially to the 'basement' of the Franklyn home) and there are some plot-driven inconsistencies (e.g. venom works a lot faster on secondary characters than on primary characters), but otherwise, 'The Reptile' is a pretty good example of mid-sixties British horror (other than the absence of Hammer perennials Cushing and Lee).
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This film is one of the best period horror films of it's day. The costumes and sets are lavish and the acting is notable. The 'Reptile' itself is hinted at but not seen for most of the film, building suspense. It is a shame that the video box shows what the Reptile looks like, lessening the shock when you see it on the screen. The make up was very ahead of its time, much more realistic than other films of its day. The only problem about the film is that it plays like a mystery, but we already know what is going on. People die after getting on the neck. No one knows who or what is doing the killing. A good guess on our part would be, the Reptile. By the time the players figure that out, we have already have figured out who is the Reptile. The film is a little low on terror and gore for a Hammer film, but writing and effects more than make up for it. Plus the film boasts one of the best 'dead body POV shots' ever filmed. A must for any Hammer fan!
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BA_Harrison5 March 2008Made back-to-back with Plague of the Zombies, and using many of the locations, the same director, and some of the cast from that film, The Reptile isn't quite as good as Hammer's only zombie movie, but is still splendid fun nonetheless.
Ray Barrett plays Harry Spalding, an ex-soldier who moves to Cornwall with his wife Valerie (Jennifer Daniel), after he inherits a country cottage from his recently deceased brother.
Unfortunately, the Spaldings' new life in the West country is far from idyllic: the locals are less than friendly (with the exception of Tom Bailey, the pub landlord, played by Hammer regular Michael Ripper); their new neighboursDr. Franklyn (Noel Willman), his beautiful daughter Anna, and their manservantare more than a little creepy; and some kind of extremely venomous creature is on the loose and claiming victims right, left and centre.
Don't expect too much in the way of blood and boobs in this offering from Hammer: there is very little of both. What you do get, however, is a decent cast giving some fine performances (Michael Ripper, in particular, gets a chance to shine), some suitably atmospheric direction from John Gilling, and a memorable monster which, despite being kinda silly looking, is still pretty freaky.
And that's good enough for me! -
lost-in-limbo5 November 2006After the mysterious death of his brother, Harry Spalding and his wife Valerie move to the Cornwall Cottage of that of their inherited house. The locals turn a cold shoulder, but the local bar owner Tom greets them. Weird things are going on and just like his brother, a local man dies in the same fashion. Maybe it has something to do with their odd neighbour Dr. Franklyn and his daughter Anna. Who before this had happened, asked the couple to sell and leave this place.
Capable work all round, but especially from the versatile cast makes this one very solid Hammer chiller. Like many of the reviewers on here have already mentioned, it was filmed back to back with the same director's "Plague of the Zombies" (which I've yet to see). It's typical Hammer fluff with a towering atmosphere of eerie intrigue, a well-renown earth shaking score, engulfed by fluid camera-work and an extremely offbeat premise. Sounds like a real treat indeed. But something stops it from being one of Hammer's greater achievements. It gets off to a slow start, but doesn't really hit momentum until the film's final 15 minutes. There's nothing wrong with that as the script is well defined and there's detailed characterisations, but it seems to suggest more than it actually delivers. The story's angle builds up the mystery effectively enough and drums up a bunch of suspense with some stinging strikes in a viper pace. The back-story of the snake people could have been explored a little further and motivation behind the attacks were quite hazy. But in all, where it counts it surely did entertain. The make-up effects of the creature weren't too crash hot, but the aftermath of the tenacious attacks left some unpleasant visuals. Some mouth foaming goodness. A strong period setting enforces Hammer great eye for detail and perfection in creating the times. The isolated and uneasy air of the countryside sprawls off the screen. The cast were all very good and lifted from the ordinary. Michael Ripper really does make the most and is extremely potent when on screen. Ray Barrett and the gorgeous Jennifer Daniel were convincing. Marne Maitland is profoundly shifty in a pinpoint turn as The Malay.
A decent effort by Hammer studios. -
drownsoda9013 December 2015After the strange death of his brother, a man and his wife relocate to a remote cottage he's inherited in Cornwall. Weird goings on with the locals, a neighbor, and mysterious deaths in the area seem to be linked to a bizarre creature.
One of Hammer's finer, if not campier (by today's standards), efforts, "The Reptile" is immensely enjoyable on the level of pure atmosphere alone. Like most of Hammer's most memorable pictures, the film weaves a tapestry of British atmospherics—the rural English countryside, the quaint cottage, and the ominous forests take center stage here. There is something spellbinding about these films in the way that they fashion their own atmospheric universes, and "The Reptile" is a stellar example of it done extremely well.
The score here fantastic and there are some well-handled attack scenes with the titular monster; the film is also surprisingly suspenseful and is able to ratchet the tension over the first seventy or so minutes. Things don't really propel steadfastly until the last fifteen to twenty minutes, but there is plenty of atmosphere and tension preceding it that makes the payoff just good enough. The film's final scene is really fantastic, and the special effects on the monster are commendable by today's standards, despite how absurd the entire thing may really be. The acting also holds up surprisingly well, with Ray Barrett as the leading man and Jennifer Daniel as his inquisitive wife. Marne Maitland is subtly sinister as The Malay, and lends the film an additional element of perturbation.
Overall, "The Reptile" is a fun, atmospheric romp through the cold-blooded monster-land of the English countryside. It is most definitely dated in many ways, though it retains enough atmosphere and suspense to be enjoyable today, no matter how you feel about a half-woman half-snake lurking about the moors. Worthwhile for fans of Hammer as well as anyone who likes a good old fashioned monster movie with a British twist. 7/10. -
mwilson197627 May 2020A Malayan curse turns the daughter (Jacqueline Pearce) of a 19th-century English doctor (Noel Willman) into a snake woman in this 1966 horror film made by Hammer Film Productions and directed by John Gilling. It was filmed back to back with The Plague of the Zombies, and used many of the same sets (including exterior shots in the grounds of Oakley Court near Bray, Berkshire) and cast, namely Pearce and Michael Ripper. It's a slower and moodier film than its companion-piece but still delivers its fair share of shocks. Pearce in particular is pretty scary looking in her Reptile make-up which she hated wearing as she suffered from claustrophobia, the actress vowing never to wear "creature" make-up again. The film was released on a double feature with Rasputin, the Mad Monk.
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I was very let down by this movie. It should have been better, but didn't really add up to much....especially the first 2/3. Lots of talk and indifferent scenes at first. So little motivation or overall explanation for the town and characters' actions as well, so that most of the early plot isn't making a lot of sense. Even the first, establishing killing, isn't clear enough to give an idea of the monster. Unfortunately so, since it could have been better if the WHO and WHAT of the town's ongoing horror was strongly set from the start. AND, the elements are there to work with: newly arrived outsiders, fearful locals, doomsday crazyman, sinister foreigner, beautiful kept daughter, mysterious fatherly doctor.
Very nice post-bite makeup effects, though, seen on victim(s). Excellent sets. Weak dialogue, other than Crazy Peter....he was memorable.
Definitely a let down when compared to other Hammer films. Not up to snuff, and almost looks like an early, flailing effort before the studio had sharpened its approach.....but, based on date, it had released other stronger titles already. Not recommended. -
As a Hammer film fan I'm used to seeing all the usual suspects, but this film makes a neat departure from your classic movie monsters and delves into a bit of reptilian horror. Considering that the feature creature was a snake woman, I began to question why the picture wasn't called 'The Snake Woman' or 'Cobra Woman', but following a quick IMDb search, I found those titles were already taken; the first one made in 1961 and the latter in 1944. I thought that might have been the case.
Well it takes a while for the actual snake woman to make her appearance in full regalia, and one has to admit it was a grotesque piece of business. The 'cobra' fangs on the neck of it's victims was also a neat touch, hinting at a possible vampire tease but going in a different direction altogether. I had to wonder why Harry Spalding (Ray Barrett) didn't get the full monty blackened skin treatment and die right off the bat when Anna (Jacqueline Pearce) put the bite on him, but obviously his wife (Jennifer Daniel) made it to the rescue in time.
Meanwhile the business with the Malay creepy guy (Marne Maitland) didn't seem very well fleshed out to explain why he had such a dominant hold over Dr. Franklyn (Noel Willman). They eventually came to blows, so except for the sake of the story, one would question why Franklyn didn't make his break with the guy a lot sooner. By the way, what was in that bubbly concoction in the underground dungeon - poison, snake venom, acid, what?
Overall though, an effective enough horror flick to entertain most fans. The Hammer sets always manage to entertain with their lavish detail, this one was absent some of the bright, garish color of the Frankenstein and Dracula flicks. The inclusion of Anna playing a sitar had to be a bonus, you don't get to see that much, short of a Ravi Shankar concert. -
toddholmes-8888313 July 2019I love this movie! British colonialist who served in India is cursed by a powerful sorcerer who dooms his daughter to turn into a king cobra at certain astrological phases of the moon. Villagers are dying from a terrible malady that resembles the black plague. Politically incorrect? Maybe, but it's an atmospheric Hammer masterpiece, who prove that even with a limited budget, you can make a compelling story. The sitar scene makes it worth watching (Incidentally, this movie came out in 1966, the same year the Beatles introduced the sitar to a wider audience of fans.) Synergistic? Could be.
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The_Void23 December 2005The Reptile is famous for the fact that it utilises the same sets as the brilliant 'Plague of the Zombies', and as such; you would expect the rest of the film not to be up to Hammer's usual standards. This couldn't be further from the truth! While this may not be Hammer's best work, all the things that us fans have come to expect from this great studio are present, along with a few other little surprises. The film follows a man and his wife who move to a small village to live in the cottage that the man's brother left him. The brother died in mysterious circumstances...and our hero makes it his business to find out why. This plot is good enough, but it's the other one that really sparks the interest. The film introduces a brand new monster - the Snake Woman! Dracula, Frankenstein's Monster etc are all fine; but we've seen them all before. I have a lot of respect for this film just due to the fact that it's got something different on offer. The Snake Woman is an unfortunate victim of a curse...and she stalks the local population on the moors at night.
The film features a lot of suspense, and it pretty much runs throughout the entire run time. We are always on tender hooks to uncover the mystery behind the mystifying Snake Woman, and this is helped by the way that the plot continues to deal out cards, without telling the audience exactly what is going on until the end. The only real problem with the film is that the mythology never really explained in any great detail...the film, having a new monster at it's centre, would have benefited greatly from delving a little more into how she came about. This film is notable for Hammer fans because of the fact that the studio's favourite co-star, Michael Ripper, has got himself a starring role! This actor has done so much for Hammer films, and it's good to see him in a larger role for a change. The film benefits from the traditional Hammer style, including both lavish sets and a sense of goodwill that runs throughout. The film's climax is really good, as it provides an answer to both the plots running during the film, and even manages a little poetic justice! On the whole - don't miss this one. It may not be Hammer's best - or most famous - but I'm already looking forward to seeing it again! -
Theo Robertson14 July 2002I`m not much of a horror film fan and have always found much of Hammer`s output mediocre ( Especially their FRANKENSTIEN and DRACULA stuff ) but I do believe THE REPTILE is one of best films to have come out of the studio . It does contain some stilted performances and dialogue , some obvious day for night filming , and the corny cliche of an Innkeeper ( " Strangers sir ? We don`t get strangers in these parts " ) but rightfully THE REPTILE concentrates on mystery and atmosphere rather than gore and the make up on the title creature is very good . I remember this film terrified me as a child and seeing it again as an adult I did find it very entertaining . Good scary fun
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johnshephard-8368215 February 2020I'm astonished that so many people rave about this total garbage. Did they see the same film? I agree that it has a mostly decent cast, but the material they are given to work with? I mean, how many clichés do you want? The remote setting, in a village that has no doctor, the local pub where the regulars literally walk out every time the newcomers walk in (and poor Michael Ripper has to say, out loud, the line 'they don't like strangers in these parts'), the inexplicably unfriendly squire, with vivacious daughter and sinister manservant, the standard pretty wife, Jennifer Daniel, who makes her husband, Ray Barrett, promise that he will never leave her alone in their spooky new home, and you know that is exactly what he will do frequently, a reptile monster in a ridiculous latex mask, whose behaviour is never explained coherently, the newcomer's house being utterly ransacked without any discernible reason (and restored in about three minutes), scenes that serve no purpose, and so on, and so on. I don't mind a bit of low-budget horror, but you at least expect that the plot will make some kind of sense. One reviewer referred to the brief part of a murder victim at the start being played by Harold Pinter - I think you'll find that actor is a different David Baron (Pinter's stage name), known for his Dr Who-type performances. Pinter wouldn't have gone anywhere near this drivel.
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ferbs541 July 2005Immediately upon finishing his wonderfully creepy film "The Plague of the Zombies" (1966), Hammer Studios director John Gilling began making "The Reptile," using the sames sets and the same Victorian Cornwall setting. And, thankfully, one of the same actresses: Jacqueline Pearce. Pearce had made a terrifically frightening zombie in that earlier picture, and was here cast as the daughter of a theology professor, who is turned by the Snake People of Borneo into one of their own as a vengeance for her father's snooping... This is actually a quite literate little picture, with fine direction, good-looking sets and exteriors, and solid acting. Like "Plague," it features some shocking moments, a good deal of sustained suspense, and characters who are likable and appealing. We do not get to see the snake creature that Pearce becomes overly much, but that was fine by me. Pearce is a remarkably beautiful and talented performer, and every frame that she is in is spellbinding. Her unique face is equally suited to inducing sympathy or chills; in that respect, she is reminiscent of the great "Queen of Horror," Barbara Steele. I guarantee all IMDb viewers that if they watch these two films (preferably back to back, for one superbly well-matched double feature), they will become instant fans of Jacqueline Pearce, and will want to see more of her work. Despite some unanswered questions and a somewhat weak finale (again, similar to "Plague of the Zombies"), "The Reptile" is a solid horror movie, and still another winner from the House of Hammer.
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claudio_carvalho24 January 2006When his brother Charles Spalding (David Baron) mysteriously dies, Harry Spalding (Ray Barrett) and his wife Valerie (Jennifer Daniel) decide to move to the inherited cottage in a small village in the countryside. They are coldly received by the locals, with the exception of the bartender and owner of a pub Tom Bailey (Michael Ripper), who welcomes them. His weird neighbor Dr. Franklyn (Noel Willman), who lives with his beautiful daughter Anna (Jacqueline Pearce), tries to persuade them to sell the house and leave the place, but the couple decides to stay. Harry and Valerie find that the locals are being killed by some snake and they feel threatened. When Anna asks for help and they trespass Dr. Franklyn's house, they find the horrible truth hidden in the place.
I have grownup watching Hammer horror movies in the movie theaters, mainly when I was a teenager. Therefore, Hammer movies have been and are very pleasant for me. "The Reptile" is only reasonable: the atmosphere is great, the snake-woman Jacqueline Pearce is really a very beautiful woman and the suspenseful story, although having many flaws and a weak conclusion, is attractive. The shape of snake woman recalls 1954 Universal's "Creature from the Black Lagoon". My vote is six.
Title (Brazil): "A Serpente" ("The Serpent")
Note: On 14 Dec 2019, I saw this film again. -
Following a relative's death, a man and his wife head off to the remote village to inherit a new house unknowing of the bizarre experiments a neighbor conducted that has unleashed a terrifying monster, forcing them to kill the creature before more are harmed.
This turned out to be an utterly disappointing effort overall. Among the main problem here is the rather wretched and atrocious pacing featured since the film is just an utter bore as nothing really happens at all. While this one manages to get a lot out of the straightforward and consistent story, for the most part it's just basically a repetition of one of three different scenes and it really drags the film out to a lurching halt not only with the lack of action but also the general continuation of these same specific scenes and set-ups recurring throughout the film. We either have the villagers giving them the cold shoulder, the local doctor getting upset at them for no reason or everyone is sitting around talking about the death of the first person, and none of it really comes off in any way enjoyable. The villagers' hostility towards the new couple arriving into town reeks of nothing more than cliché now and manages to feel totally unwarranted with the continued usage of the tactic being so completely expected as well as feeling so unnecessary to the events that it feels like excess padding when they continually get run out of town. The party scenes with the doctor at his house are quite dull and really don't serve any kind of solid purpose other than to bring about the storyline ruse about their past endeavors traveling the world yet go on for so long that his company seems hardly that interesting in the case where it's presented here, and there's so long into the film before they even decide to investigate the first murder that it seems like an afterthought despite being the main clue that zeros them in on what's going on. That overwhelming sense of boredom afflicts the film to the point where it's monster attacks don't even start until the fifty- five minute mark, the creature isn't revealed until ten minutes into the finale, and we break up the action to get the full back-story revealed to us before it starts up the action again which makes all of this really troubling. Along with the somewhat cheesy-looking creature effects that aren't imposing at all, these here hold this one back. There's still some rather fun parts here, most of which coming from the fact that the Gothic flavors are still in full effect and it really works those to full effect with the small- town village on the outskirts of town which manages to generate that famous Hammer atmosphere so often utilized in their films, most notably in a graveyard excavation sequence in the pouring rain. Coupled with the engrossing storyline where brings out some rather novel ideas with the concept of the creature's cult origins and overall backstory that's on display here. Also, as expected in this kind of the film it manages to get some good action towards the end where it gets the prototypical burning-down-the-house finale which starts off in the basement pit before making it's way through the rest of the house giving this a great finish, but it's just so deathly dull you'll fall asleep before it gets to the good stuff.
Today's Rating/PG: Violence. -
Despite the silly looking picture of the creature shown here on IMDb, "The Reptile" is a pretty good horror film. It is very creepy and the atmosphere of the film is excellent--it has a wonderful sense of foreboding. However, despite my enjoying the film, the monster, such as it is, isn't all that scary and is a bit silly...quite silly.
The film begins with a man being attacked by something, but the viewer isn't sure by what. The man writhes, foams at the mouth and his skin blackens all very quickly as he dies. Apparently this is one of several such deaths that have occurred in this small and rather unwelcoming village in Cornwall, England.
When the brother of the man killed at the beginning of the film comes to the village to assume ownership of his brother's tiny estate, he finds the town to be very unfriendly. No one, other than the owner of the pub, will talk with him and one neighbor in particular (Dr. Franklyn) is particularly nasty. You know something is terrible is happening there, but like the brother, getting to the heart of all this is difficult.
As far as WHAT is happening goes, considering the title and photo on IMDb, it doesn't take a rocket scientist to figure that there is some sort of deadly reptile-human hybrid that is doing the killing. The idea of this is reminiscent of the silly 1950s film, "The Alligator People" and it is a bit silly--though for a Hammer film, the costume they use isn't that bad. And that, combined with the great atmosphere, make this a film worth seeing--particularly if you are a fan of Hammer. -
russjones-8088730 May 2020A Cornish village has a series of deaths apparently caused by snake bites. A couple recently moved in start an investigation.
Standard Hammer film starring Ray Barrett and Jennifer Daniel as the couple. If you generally like these films, you'll like this. If not, do not expect too much. -
mark.waltz25 October 2020There are some impressive moments in this obscure Hammer film with a completely unknown cast, atmospheric sets and a few frights. But mostly I was bored over the story of a man who comes to Cornwall to take over his recently deceased brother's estate and finds out about the creepy man sized snake who is indeed a man who turns into the creepy reptile. The film moves at the pacing of a shed snake skin and its attempts to build in tension results in an action packed climax that jarringly ends, leading me to have questions that I really didn't want to take the time to have answered. audiences will be disturbed by the presence of a cage filled with fluffy animals that appear to be snake food, right next to a mysterious pit of some sulfur like substance. It's a horror film that in spite of being one of my favorite genres that I can easily declare that I wouldn't sit through again, this time being my second viewing (having discovered that I had already rated it) yet not remembered anything from having seen it before or any clue as to when.
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rosscinema21 October 2003While this is considered one of Hammer Studios lesser efforts it's still better than most horror films made in the last 25 years or so. I'll take a so-so Hammer film over most Hollywood junk any day, but this is not a so-so film. It's a well made horror film that I recommend to all. Story is about a young couple who come to live in a small village but are unaware that several strange deaths have been occurring and the people who live there are not hospitable to strangers. Harry Spalding (Ray Barrett) and his wife Valerie (Jennifer Daniel) arrive to claim his brothers home after he dies but are met by unfriendly townspeople. The only person to act friendly is the owner of the tavern Tom Bailey (Michael Ripper). They fix up the house and one day they meet Dr. Franklyn (Noel Willman) who asks if anyone has seen his daughter Anna. They haven't but Anna (Jacqueline Pearce) does pop up later and invites the Spalding's over for dinner. At dinner Harry and Valerie notice that Dr. Franklyn has an East Indian named Malay (Marne Maitland) living with him and together they both have a strong hold over everything Anns does or says. Later that night at the Spalding's home Valerie has lost her cat so Harry goes back over to Dr. Franklyn's to find it but as he searches The Reptile attacks and nicks Harry on the neck. His collar saves him from death and he stumbles back home. Valerie gets Tom to help and when Dr. Franklyn comes over Tom tells him that Harry has died.
*****SPOILER ALERT*****
Later Valerie goes to try and help Anna but when she gets there she is caught and held prisoner by Dr. Franklyn who tells her the truth that Anna is part human and part snake and that once a year she sheds her skin. The Reptile comes to kill Valerie and Harry and Tom race over to save her before it's too late.
This was directed by John Gilling and it was filmed back to back with "Plague of the Zombies" and several of the sets can be seen in both films. Most notably the inside of the tavern and the scenes in the cemetery. Gilling, along with Terence Fisher was perfectly suited for these films by Hammer Studios. Gilling creates just the right eerie atmosphere to make this effective and the make-up for The Reptile is pretty good. It looks more effective when Pearce is wearing it and hiding in dark corners. Pearce was perfectly cast as Anna and it's because of her striking beauty and dark exotic look. You can't take your eyes off of her! It's not one of the best films Hammer has produced and it does move slowly at times. The victims of The Reptile have less than convincing death scenes especially in terms of make-up. After The Reptile strikes, the victims turn a dark color and start to froth at the mouth. The effects show actors with shoe polish on their faces and it looks like they're choking on an Alka Seltzer! But this is just nit-picking because this is an extremely enjoyable horror film with good special effects. Fans of these films should definitely view this well made Hammer film. -
pcsarkar5 February 2013I like Hammer productions, because of the lavish colors, crisp European countrysides and clipped British accents. What irks me sometimes are the rather abrupt endings.. in fact, many endings do not wrap up the plots satisfactorily. Coming to The Reptile, the above statements ring true. And here, there are too many plot holes to be ignored. The brother of the dead Mr Spalding comes to stay in his inherited cottage. Why? How and why did he wrap up his establishment and come to the village? What was to be his proposed source of livelihood in the village? Why were the villagers against the poor fellow, when his brother, the dead Spalding had himself died tragically? Why was the cottage smashed up before his arrival? Who did the smashing? Why was Dr Franklin so taciturn with others, while being a wimp with the sneering Malay (Marne Maitland)? What was the Malay doing anyhow in the doctor's household? Providing victims to the Reptile? Who was being actually punished? Dr Franklin, or the poor villagers, who were being conked off one by one? Why didn't Dr Franklin report the sneering Malay to the police (I hope the dude had his immigration papers in order), or simply ask the daughter to sink her fangs into him, once and for all?
Hey.. more holes.... why did Dr Franklin lock Valerie Spalding in the house towards the end? His erratic actions prove that he was no innocent bystander.. he was as guilty as anybody else. And how did Anna enter the Spalding cottage, which was locked? To what purpose? She died mighty sudden of the English cold, just because a window was open. Heck.. no reptile dies that fast. Else our homes and gardens would be full of dead lizards and geckos in winter. The cold slows down reptiles.. makes them sluggish. They just don't die as if a gust of cold wind was a bottle of cyanide.
I know its unfair to sit in judgment over a film that was produced about half-a-century ago. But this one has just too many holes.. like a lump of cheese. Appears to be a slapdash job - with a weak plot, a silly reptile costume and crazy characters, whose craziness could not be explained. I guess Anna Franklyn (Jacqueline Pearce) was the only redeeming feature of the movie. She looked sultry, sexy and attractive. She also looked suitably vulnerable.
This was a no-winner from the House of Hammer. Sad. -
bensonmum211 August 2009A young couple, Harry and Valerie Spalding, inherit and move into a small cottage previously owned by the husband's now deceased brother, Charles. Charles' death is something of a mystery, but none of the locals in the small Cornish village want to discuss it or any of the other deaths they've seen. Harry has seen some strange things in his time and believes that these deaths are similar to the cobra bite victims he saw in India. But a cobra in Cornwall - it's not possible. The couple meets their standoffish and odd neighbor, Dr. Franklyn, and his charming, but strange daughter, Anna. The Franklyn's are hiding a secret, but is it a secret capable of killing Charles and others in the community? Is there a giant, snake-like creature hiding in the Franklyn's house?
Of all the wonderful movies that Hammer made, I'm of the opinion that The Reptile is one of the most often overlooked gems in the catalog. It's a really nice movie that doesn't seem to get near the attention I feel it deserves. Good acting from a rather small cast (with a big, meaty role for Hammer regular Michael Ripper), nice pacing, solid direction, and that Hammer "look" (for lack of a better word) that I always enjoy. But what really sets The Reptile apart is the atmosphere. There's a real sense of fear and mystery about the whole movie. It's as creepy and suspense filled as anything Hammer ever made. And I just love the whole notion of a snake-cult putting a curse on Franklyn and his daughter. It's a unique, original idea for a movie. Sure, there have been other snake-to-man movies, but none that I've seen are as well done as this one. Finally, I've read complaints about the make-up effects. Personally, I think they're fine given the relative modest budget Hammer put-up for the movie. The snake appliances may not look as real as one might have hoped for, but at least they're not some weightless CGI nonsense. Just go with it and have fun. -
SnoopyStyle5 January 2023It's 19th century England. Harry Spalding and his new wife Valerie inherit a country cottage in the small village of Clagmoor Heath in Cornwall. His brother Charles was killed by an unseen evil. Everybody advises him to sell. Some people are trying to drive them out.
This is a Hammer Film horror. It's spooky, but rather slow. I do like the old style atmospherics. There are some added exotic Eastern flavors. The monster looks a bit weak. They only give him fleeting glimpses probably due to the lower quality of the costume. I do like the makeup on the victims. This is a fine B-horror from that era. -
ppitta220 October 2017I watched the Reptile on my DVR and I can't tell you how slow this movie is. The reptile scenes are minimal and nothing really happens until the last 10 minutes.Some might say that it builds suspense but I found it very dull and talky.When a 90 minute film takes over an hour to have some action you lose interest.I feel that if it's a horror film it should have several scares and appearances of the monster.The makeup on the snake woman was very good but I just wish she was in it more.In fact after I watched it I deleted it from my DVR.That is definitely one I will not be watching again.