PlatinumRead Just so...so bad

Blake Rivera If you like to be scared, if you like to laugh, and if you like to learn a thing or two at the movies, this absolutely cannot be missed.

Freeman This film is so real. It treats its characters with so much care and sensitivity.

Staci Frederick Blistering performances.

Rainey Dawn It's mainly/mostly a crime story where terrorists are trying to get money over holding a young rich boy hostage. The boy's mom went on a trip, left him with a maid and her dad at her place. The boy ordered a harmless snake but received the mamba by mistake - the mamba was suppose to have gone to the local toxicologist (the toxicologist received the boy's pet snake).Most of the film is about the crime being committed - arguing crooks! Only a little is shown of the snake - mainly the beginning of the film and the ending. This could have simply been a crime-thriller (that is mainly what it is anyway) and left out the horror aspect with the rarely shown snake.Okay film - just not great as a horror film. Good when viewed as a crime-thriller.5/10

Coventry Terrifically entertaining (yet heavily flawed) Brit-thriller with a downright sensational cast and not one but TWO very competent directors. Tobe Hooper, still very popular and reliable those days, started the assignment but he got fired and replaced by no less than Piers Haggard. The latter made one of my personal favorite horror films during the early 70's ("Blood on Satan's Skin") and really knows how to bring tension to the screen. The plot of "Venom" is very simple and perhaps even a bit stupid, but the action sequences are far too exciting for you to care about that. Two dubious servants and one internationally wanted criminal plot to kidnap the sickly son of a rich English family, but face a very venomous obstacle. For you see, the boy was supposed to receive a harmless snake as a gift from his grandfather, but the pet store messed up and 'accidentally' delivered him a Black Mamba; the most dangerous and aggressive snake in the world. The reptile escapes and prevents the kidnappers from leaving the house while police forces gather around outside. The lethal-snake-on-the-loose concept results in a handful of very claustrophobic suspense sequences, while its violent attacks are well shot and providing the film with some jumpy moments. Horror and/or Creature Feature-fanatics shouldn't expect a lot of gore, but the make-up effects following a snake bite are effectively unsettling and gruesome. Demigod Klaus Kinski is just as petrifying as a poisonous snake and gives away a superb performance as always. Oliver Reed occasionally overacts as the sneering & nervous sidekick Dave, but he also has a couple of highly memorable scenes. Bringing these fine actors together in one film is already quite an accomplishment, and then there are still supportive roles for Nicol Williamson, Sterling Hayden and the natural beauty Susan George. "Venom" even stars British veteran Michael Gough in a neat cameo appearance! I could also mention some of the dramatic story lines that are clichéd or the twists that are implausible, but I merely just wish to emphasize that "Venom" is a fun flick and an excellent thriller-choice to watch when you're in an undemanding mood.

Kieran Green Venom, is a great suspense that take's place in a luxurious townhouse in the heart of London, The film's premise is simple, a rich hotel magnate's son become's the target for a kidnap, that goes awry, Susan George,plays the maid who scheme's with her chauffeur/lover Oliver Reed, And Klaus Kinski, plays a deadly eastern European terrorist, who wants the boy in exchange for a ransom, Thing's unfortunately don't go to plan as the boy who is a reptilian nut of sort's inadvertently brings home a deadly black mamba, as there was a mix up at the pet shop,Also starring, the legendary Sterling Hayden(In his last major motion picture performance) play's the boy's big game hunting grandfather,Scottish actor Nichol Willaimson, plays the dour police officer who deals with the crisis, And Sarah Miles plays the pivotal role of a toxicologist, who is called in to deal with the task of providing the pivotal antidote,and is also held hostage when an exchange for the antidote goes wrong,In the townhouse,their are some great scare's in this flick, where you would NOT expect it them! the snake's point of view is Excellently represented by quashed anamorphic Len's's, which work really well,All in all a moderately budgeted entertaining suspense that really bite's, People who don't like snake's need not apply!

William Holmes I thought this was a rather fun film with a lot of suspense and a few shocks. It brought back some good memories of seeing some great actors from the past in some good performances; Oliver Reed and Klaus Kinski. John Forbes-Robertson is still acting today. And I found out that the actor, Lance Holcomb, who played the kid in the film, a photo that looks like the child all grown up, comes up in Google as a salesperson for a Ford dealership in Washington! Some gruesome attack scenes in the film too! It brought several shocks. The direction is very good and the DVD that Blue Underground released the color is beautiful. Good Extras on the DVD too.