MovieChat Forums > The Serpent and the Rainbow (1988) Discussion > The snake scene... Holy sh-t!

The snake scene... Holy sh-t!

posted 18 years ago by snotjello
9 replies | jump to latest

The scene where Bill Pulman and the lady doctor are asleep and the snake climbs over them...

That is absolutely a Gaboon Viper, one of the deadliest snakes in the world (though it's actually an African species), and that seems to be the actual actress (as opposed to some sort of sculpture) laying there letting it crawl across her. That is one HELL of a stunt, for an actor to allow that to happen (or a director, producer, insurance rep, etc.). Anyone have any insight or ideas on how they pulled this off, other than it being exactly what it appears to be?

That IS a Gaboon Viper: http://www.whozoo.org/Intro2002/KayKayembe/KTK_gaboonviper.html

[–] aehyde21 18 years ago

No, it probably WAS a fake human body.

The only other options I can think of is that the snake's mouth was temporarily sewn shut. I've read that it is legal in the US for a snake's mouth to be sewn shut for a movie, provided the procedure is performed by a licensed vet.

It's also possible that they had a venomoid, ie one whose entire venom glands had been surgically removed. This is extremely controversial today and pretty much considered animal cruelty. But this movie was made quite a while ago, so perhaps they could get away with it back then.

[–] snotjello 18 years ago

aehyde21 wrote:
No, it probably WAS a fake human body.

------------------------------------

If it was it was the best I've ever seen, especially when compared to the rather crappy one of Paul Winfield later (or was it earlier?) in the film when a scorpion climbs out of his mouth.

Snot

[–] aehyde21 18 years ago

True, but that was a direct face shot, and a fake face is WAY harder to make realistic. I don't think the woman's face was visible on-camera with the snake, was it? (Sorry, I saw the movie for the first time late the other night, and don't remember details very well. :) )

[–] vinnieavenue 16 years ago

Maybe its fangs had been removed.

**Accio Harry's virginity!**

[–] snotjello 16 years ago

Not sure they could get away with that, even in the '80s. Cruelty aside... and it would be, I'm not sure the snake would ultimately survive such a procedure.

[–] patrickglad 12 years ago

This was the first thing i recognized. Not upset that an african snake is used in a film set in Haiti, just amazed it isn't picked up on. I must have read too many issues of herpetology magazines, or made the mistake of not becoming a vet.

[–] snotjello 11 years ago

:-)
I know just what you mean.

[–] chelle-35 10 years ago

I came here looking to see if anyone had extra information on how in the world Wes Craven could be allowed to make a movie with a gaboon viper slithering around actors. No way in hell, I'd sooner kiss a rattler and that ain't happening either. They must have had NO idea the danger they were in.

[–] chilone 10 years ago

Well, on the lighter side, Gaboon vipers can be very slow to bite lol!!!

I don't love her.. She kicked me in the face!!