By Stephen Pytak 

     Blue Underground did a pretty good  job of putting 
the DVD package together for this so-so snake film.
     It doesn't have a making-of documentary, but the 
commentary by director Piers Haggard is a treat.
     You'll bust a gut listening to him talk about the 
behind-the-scenes bitch battles between actors Klaus 
Kinski and Oliver Reed.
     The film is an O.K. thriller about vipers: three 
kidnappers played by Kinski, Reed and Susan George, 
and a Black Mamba, a deadly African snake, who 
ends up in the wrong place and the wrong time.
     I remember seeing the film on the big screen when 
it came out in 1982. It didn't make a big impression on 
me then. Then again, back then I was 12 and had a 
short attention span. I think I yawned a lot during it.
     Now, seeing it again on DVD, I got a little more 
out of it. I love the snake-attack scenes. They are 
terrific! 
     My favorite is the first, the attack on Susan George.
     After the Mamba kisses her twice on the lips, she 
goes down and gives us a death scene which has to be 
one of the most erotic committed to film.
     First let me say she's got this short skirt on and 
these retro leather boots. She falls flat on her back, 
starts ripping open her blouse, then starts to thrust and 
thrust and thrust. 
     Amazing.
     Even Kinski looked blown.
     His performance is the only other thing I really 
enjoyed watching. It's not classic, but Kinski is always 
interesting because he was known to cross the line. The 
director said Kinski even hurt actress Sarah Miles arm 
by grabbing it too tight.
     Kinski turned down a role in Spielberg's "Raiders 
of the Lost Ark" to be in this film, a decision he later 
regretted.
     In "Raiders," Kinski wouldn't have had much to do 
aside from act menacing and have his face melted by 
the wrath of God.
     But in "Venom," he gets the chance to go one-on-
one not only with Oliver Reed, but the damn snake.
     The fight is furious. The snake bites him on the 
head. Kinski flips. He throws the damn snake. The 
snake comes back for more. Kinski flips again. The 
snake somehow gets around his neck. Kinski really 
flips…It's kind of funny actually. It doesn't seem all 
that realistic. But it's fun to watch.
     It's also notable that real Black Mambas were used 
in the making of this film. 
     The shots of the snake in the vent, its head rearing 
up, its black mouth exposed, will no doubt be 
imprinted in some nightmares.
     I also found it fascinating that the director, while 
watching the film, was unable at times to determine if 
he'd used a fake snake or a real snake in some scenes.
     Blue Underground also gives us something really 
special. On the card inside the package, you'll find the 
original pre-production ad.
     On it you'll see the name of the man who was 
originally attached to this project.
     The credit reads: Directed by Tobe Hooper.