Lair of the White Worm, The (1988) Buy this film on DVD Buy this film on VHS Title: Lair of the White Worm, The Released: 1988 Genre: Horror Runtime: 93 min Country: UK Language: English Plot Summary: Scottish archaelogist Angus Flint discovers an odd skull amid the ruins of a convent which he is excavating. Shortly thereafter, Lady Sylvia Marsh returns to Temple House, a nearby mansion, far earlier than expected. At a party in the village, Angus meets Lord James D'Ampton, who has just inherited his family's lands, right next to Temple House. Angus learns of the D'Ampton Worm, a huge dragon/snake which an earlier D'Ampton killed by cutting it in half. (There's a pretty catchy rock-folk song that tells the D'Ampton Worm legend.) As people begin disappearing and acting strangely over the next day or two, the skull is stolen from Angus' room, and the watch of a missing person is found in a cavern which was the legendary home of the D'Ampton worm. Angus and James discover that there was an ancient cult which worshiped the worm as a god, and theorize that the creature somehow survived its "destruction", but was trapped inside the cavern. The remainder of the movie shows Angus, James, and Mary Trent attempting to stop Lady Marsh from freeing the creature... Comments: Best post-Hammer British Horror flick. This film is a glorious mix of gothic horror, gore, eroticism and British charm and is one of the only examples of horror and comedy being mixed effectively. The story is based on Bram Stoker's original novel (which I have not actually read), but I don't know how well it follows it. Other highlights include an early performence from a guy named Hugh Grant (and is probably his best movie) and the psychedelic hallucinations experienced by some of the cast. Ken Russell has created a true masterpiece full of chills and laughs that is extremely underrated. All in all, campy horror at it's best. Cast overview: Amanda Donohoe .... Lady Sylvia Marsh Hugh Grant .... Lord James D'Ampton Catherine Oxenberg .... Eve Trent Peter Capaldi .... Angus Flint Sammi Davis .... Mary Trent Stratford Johns .... Peters Paul Brooke .... P.C. Erny Imogen Claire .... Dorothy Trent Chris Pitt .... Kevin Gina McKee .... Nurse Gladwell Christopher Gable .... Joe Trent Lloyd Peters .... Jesus Christ Miranda Coe .... Maids/Nuns Linzi Drew .... Maids/Nuns Caron Anne Kelly .... Maids/Nuns Movie scenes preview: Scene #1 ..Movie Stills featured actress: Amanda Donohoe Scene #2 ..Movie Stills featured actress: Amanda Donohoe Scene #3 ..Movie Stills featured actress: Amanda Donohoe Scene #4 ..Movie Stills featured actress: Amanda Donohoe Available to buy:  The Lair of the White Worm (DVD)  The Lair of the White Worm (VHS)  Lair of the White Worm -- by Bram Stoker (Book)  The Lair of the White Worm -- by Bram Stoker (Book)