Highlights
- The Lair of the White Worm is a hidden gem horror movie starring Hugh Grant and Peter Capaldi, known for its absurdity and supernatural themes.
- The film is loosely based on Bram Stoker's novel and tells the story of a sleepy English village plagued by strange occurrences rooted in English folklore.
- While not conventionally frightening, the movie is praised for its bizarre elements and comedic aspects, making it a cult classic among horror fans.
It is widely known that Hugh Grant and Peter Capaldi both starred in the 2017 movie Paddington 2, but their previous collaboration is definitely more of a hidden gem. Back in 1988, Grant and Capaldi both starred as the heroes in Ken Russell’s The Lair of the White Worm, a supernatural horror movie, which is widely recognized for its blatant absurdity.
With Halloween looming, The Lair of the White Worm will be on many people’s watch-list this October. Some hail the film as a Halloween classic, whilst others simply dub it as bizarre – so what actually is The Lair of the White Worm about?
What Is The Lair of the White Worm About?
Directed by Ken Russell, The Lair of the White Worm is loosely based on Bram Stoker’s 1911 novel of the same name. Whilst The Lair of the White Wormnever reached Dracula’s popularity, it still embodies Stoker’s love of gothic horror.
The movie begins with an archaeologist’s discovery of a strange skull which has a serpent-like appearance. However, once this skull has been unearthed, an ancient evil force reawakens. As a result, a sleepy English village is faced with a series of strange and supernatural occurrences. Villagers begin to mysteriously disappear, creating a terrifying mystery which is rooted in English folklore.
The Lair of the White Worm is heavily inspired by the legend of the Lambton Worm, in which a dragon-like creature terrorized villages in the English countryside. John Lambton, an heir of the Lambton Estate, became determined to kill the Worm after many others had failed to slay the supernatural beast. In order to succeed, Lambton enlisted the help of a local witch who offered him guidance on how to kill the Worm. However, the witch also tells Lambton that after killing the Worm, he must then kill the first living thing he sees, or else his family will be cursed for nine generations. Ultimately, Lambton successfully killed the Worm, but failed to carry out the witch’s orders resulting in his family becoming cursed. The Lair of the White Worm certainly encapsulates these supernatural themes, making it an unsettling watch at times.
Although the movie is predominantly a horror, The Lair of the White Worm does involve some comedy aspects. The movie doesn’t take itself too seriously and frequently parodies the gothic genre, meaning that it encapsulates the bizarre elements of horror. The Lair of the White Worm is not conventionally frightening, as one would expect from a horror film, but is instead praised for its insanity. Because of The Lair of the White Worm’s quirkiness and absurd sense of humor, the movie wasn’t well-received by some critics at the time of its release.
What Did The Lair of the White Worm Score on Rotten Tomatoes?
Years after its release, The Lair of the White Worm has been embraced as a cult classic. On Rotten Tomatoes, the movie currently has a commendable score of 69%. The Lair of the White Worm certainly isn’t for everyone, but it’s been celebrated by horror fans who can find the comedy in the movie’s over-the-top narrative.
The movie also stars Catherine Oxenberg and Amanda Donohoe, who would go on to appear in another Ken Russell movie, The Rainbow. For fans of Hugh Grant and Peter Capaldi, The Lair of the White Worm is certainly an interesting watch, especially since the movie was near the beginning of the pair’s acting careers. Since Grant and Capaldi are both renowned stars, it’s fascinating to see them both feature in this bizarre 80’s horror movie.
What Are Hugh Grant’s Other Roles?
Hugh Grant is widely recognized for his iconic roles in 90’s and early 2000’s romcoms. He starred in Four Weddings and a Funeral, Notting Hill, and Bridget Jones’ Diary. Grant is also renowned for his role in Richard Curtis’ beloved Christmas comedy movie, Love Actually, in which he played the witty Prime Minister. Around this time, Grant also starred in the 2002 comedy-drama About a Boy, which was adapted from Nick Hornby's novel of the same name. Jane Austen fans will also recognize Grant from his role as Edward Ferras in the 1995 adaptation of Sense and Sensibility.
Starring alongside Peter Capaldi, Grant delivered a memorable performance as the villainous Phoenix Buchanan in Paddington’s 2017 sequel, Paddington 2. Recently, he featured in the celebrated 2023 movie Dungeons & Dragons: Honor Among Thieves as Forge Fitzwilliam. Alongside Timothée Chalamet, Grant is also set to appear in the upcoming Wonka movie as one of Willy Wonka’s comedic Oompa-Loompas. It’s safe to say that Grant’s filmography is beyond impressive, making him an instantly recognizable household name.
What Are Peter Capaldi’s Other Roles?
Peter Capaldi is renowned for his role as the twelfth doctor in Doctor Who. Succeeding Matt Smith, Capaldi starred in the iconic sci-fi series from 2013-2017, making it his most celebrated role. Capaldi is also widely known for his role as Malcolm Tucker in the British comedy series, The Thick of It, for which he won Best Male Comedy Performance at the 2010 British Academy Television Awards.
Capaldi will also be recognized for playing Mr. Curry in the 2014 Paddington movie and its 2017 sequel, both of which were met with widespread critical acclaim. In 2021, Capaldi joined the DC Extended Universe, starring as The Thinker in the 2021 movie The Suicide Squad. Undoubtedly, Capaldi is a renowned actor, making his appearance in The Lair of the White Worm an unmissable hidden gem.