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VENOMOUS
© 2001 Twentieth Century Fox Home Entertainment

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Venomous
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VENOMOUS

Directed by B movie master Fred Olen Ray (working under the pseudonym of Ed Raymond), this tale of genetically enhanced rattlesnakes threatening a small desert town unpretentiously delivers the goods with an efficiency that reminds one of the classic B&W thrillers Jack (TARANTULA) Arnold pumped out for Universal in the '50s. The set-up is simple. Ten years ago, terrorists destroyed an isolated government research facility that was breeding snakes to carry a highly infectious disease into desert countries like Iraq. The research was stopped by the attack, but the snakes escaped into the desert where, true to B movie formula, they have set up home near the small town of Santa Mira Springs. When an earthquake drives the snakes out of their underground lair, local emergency room doctor David Henning (Treat Williams) and his staff are swamped with friends and neighbors, and even the medical personnel themselves, who are quickly falling victim to the highly communicable disease brought to town by these slithering, living weapons.

Henning contacts his estranged ex-wife Christine (Mary Page Keller), who is now with the military's viral defense department for help but, unknown to either of them, there's a hidden military presence that wants to keep the disease and, most importantly, its source a secret. Even if it means letting the population of Santa Mira Springs die off while under military quarantine.

What follows is a fairy tense variation of OUTBREAK, which is greatly bolstered by the charisma and chemistry of stars Williams and Keller, as well as the talents of familiar faces (if not necessarily names) like Geoff Pierson, Anthony Dennison, Catherine Dent and Hannes Jaenicke. Director Ray makes good use of his budget to effectively convey a strong military presence during the quarantine sequences - particularly since the small scale invasion probably didn't really consist of more than a few vehicles, a helicopter and some guys in army outfits. Ray also manages a couple of uncomfortable-to-watch moments involving his cast with dozens of snakes, and knee-jerk shocks as well.

As is usually true for B films of all budgets, there are moments when the plot or characters seem to be being manipulated to create the needed next scene, rather than such sequences developing more naturally. There are also a couple of stock footage shots which are a little too easy to spot, and the would-be runaway citizen who just happens to have a Laws rocket in his trunk is a bit hard to swallow. But overall this is as entertaining as most TV movies and even a lot of theatrical releases. Ray continues to show himself to be a master of moving camera shots that give the film a patina far greater than its budget would normally allow. In addition, Ray allows his cast the freedom to make their characters however "stock" they may be seem real and interesting. Williams effortlessly elevates his role with his laconic charm and by spicing it with bits of humor. Keller, perhaps the most likable actress this side of Mary Tyler Moore, shines in her moments with Williams and is convincingly tough when dealing with their military adversaries.

The DVD is visually satisfactory and the audio track makes a good presentation. Publicity materials for the film promise the digital disc will feature "behind-the-scenes" footage and a featurette on rattlesnakes, neither of which were to be found on our screener DVD. However, there is a trailer, a still gallery, director and cast bios and an informational commentary by Ray, who eschews his "Ed Raymond" moniker in the first moments of his talk.

The director's comments offer some info on the snakes used in the film, on his penchant for casting veteran actors with largely forgotten genre pasts, and how 1956's INVASION OF THE BODY SNATCHERS supplied the name of the town in his film. He also explains how various snake sequences were handled and readily points out the moments when the script's convolutions break the wall of believability, as well as his own concerns that his finished film might be more depressing than entertaining. Ray's a little too low key at times, and there is a genuine feeling that this may be first time he has seen the finished film, but B movie fans should be enlightened by this walk through low budget filmmaking with a veteran of the craft.