Colibel Terrible acting, screenplay and direction.

Cathardincu Surprisingly incoherent and boring

Tayloriona Although I seem to have had higher expectations than I thought, the movie is super entertaining.

Deanna There are moments in this movie where the great movie it could've been peek out... They're fleeting, here, but they're worth savoring, and they happen often enough to make it worth your while.

Leofwine_draca By all rights, Hammer's quartet of cheapie pictures (DRACULA: PRINCE OF DARKNESS, RASPUTIN THE MAD MONK, PLAGUE OF THE ZOMBIES and this) deserved little, if any success. However the four films present some of the best of the Hammer output, four rich little horror films which blend the subtle chills with some gory shocks - and are all films which remarkably disguise their low budgets with a classy sheen. Only RASPUTIN is an average film while the other three are among my Hammer favourites. THE REPTILE is a smashing film from beginning to end, a perfect little film in every way. The structure is good (there is a deliberate slow pace, in order to build the tension) and the music is the typical Gothic dread we have come to expect from the famous studio, but it is perhaps the story which remains the most interesting aspect, a spin on the werewolf legend with a reptile monster taking the place of the wolf.The reptile could easily have been an object of ridicule (like the cardboard creations in THE MUTATIONS), but thanks to Roy Ashton's famous make up, it remains the most inventive creature in the whole Hammer horror cycle. The fangs and bug eyes may not be the most realistic things ever portrayed, but they're original and cleverly done, and perhaps the work of a genius. Once again, Hammer have come up with a fine ensemble cast who perform their roles perfectly, capturing every side of their characters. There's Jennifer Daniel as the ubiquitous blonde female victim, and Jacqueline Pearce as the lovely but quite deadly Anna, cursed to become a snake woman. Her looks are memorable whether she's in snake form or not.Ray Barrett stars as the rugged hero, appearing somewhat like a Welsh version of Rod Taylor, while Noel Willman plays his role perfectly as the stern, coldly aloof, unlikable doctor (come to think of it, Christopher Lee would have been great too), torn between protecting his daughter and his own interests. He too is an imposing screen presence, almost up there with the Cushings and Lees of the period. The supporting players are perhaps the most memorable. Michael Ripper gives solid support as a pub landlord (what else? Expect the usual dialogue such as, "they don't like strangers round here!") who offers assistance whenever he can, and his is a heartfelt performance of a genuinely kind, friendly character. John Laurie plays another eccentric person, and his cries of "corrupt and evil, corrupt and evil" are certainly similar to "we're all doomed"! With a burning mansion at the end, plenty of heroism, shocks, grave digging, memorable make up, and solid acting, THE REPTILE remains one of my Hammer favourites. It just has that polished feel to it, with gruesome activities taking place in a quite rural village, that I love. You won't be disappointed.

Scott LeBrun This effective chiller from the legendary Hammer Studios stars Ray Barrett and Jennifer Daniel as Harry and Valerie Spalding, who have come to a remote Cornish community to claim a cottage left to Ray by his recently deceased brother Charles (David Baron). We see Charles come to his bad end in the pre-credits prologue; he is attacked in a nearby home by a mysterious beast. The neighbor who owns this home, Dr. Franklyn (Noel Willman) obviously knows a lot about what's going on, but decides to be cagey around people like the Spaldings. Meanwhile, most nearby villagers give Harry the cold shoulder, and it's up to friendly barman Tom Bailey (Michael Ripper) to help Harry solve this bizarre problem.It's best not to get a look at the title creature before going in. The pretty good makeup effects are by Hammers' talented makeup artist Roy Ashton, and the monster does get a nice proper introduction in a well orchestrated jump scare a little past the hour mark. The atmosphere and period recreation are as meticulously executed as they've ever been in a Hammer film, and director John Gilling, working from an engaging script by Anthony Hinds, gives us two fairly potent major suspense sequences. In one interesting touch, Hinds saves the back story / key exposition for a moment very near the end. Until then, the film is more of a mystery, and you don't know quite why all of this is happening.One key to the success of "The Reptile" is that the characters do elicit our sympathies. Barrett and Daniel are a personable main couple. Willman is great, coming off as an aloof, cold blooded jerk at first, but we warm up to him more - and feel for him - as the story progresses. Jacqueline Pearce is endearing as the doctors' daughter. Hammer utility player Ripper is wonderful in one of his more substantial roles for them. John Laurie and Marne Maitland also provide excellent support.Hammer filmed this back to back with "The Plague of the Zombies", which reuses a number of the same sets.Eight out of 10.

classicsoncall As a Hammer film fan I'm used to seeing all the usual suspects, but this film makes a neat departure from your classic movie monsters and delves into a bit of reptilian horror. Considering that the feature creature was a snake woman, I began to question why the picture wasn't called 'The Snake Woman' or 'Cobra Woman', but following a quick IMDb search, I found those titles were already taken; the first one made in 1961 and the latter in 1944. I thought that might have been the case.Well it takes a while for the actual snake woman to make her appearance in full regalia, and one has to admit it was a grotesque piece of business. The 'cobra' fangs on the neck of it's victims was also a neat touch, hinting at a possible vampire tease but going in a different direction altogether. I had to wonder why Harry Spalding (Ray Barrett) didn't get the full monty blackened skin treatment and die right off the bat when Anna (Jacqueline Pearce) put the bite on him, but obviously his wife (Jennifer Daniel) made it to the rescue in time.Meanwhile the business with the Malay creepy guy (Marne Maitland) didn't seem very well fleshed out to explain why he had such a dominant hold over Dr. Franklyn (Noel Willman). They eventually came to blows, so except for the sake of the story, one would question why Franklyn didn't make his break with the guy a lot sooner. By the way, what was in that bubbly concoction in the underground dungeon - poison, snake venom, acid, what? Overall though, an effective enough horror flick to entertain most fans. The Hammer sets always manage to entertain with their lavish detail, this one was absent some of the bright, garish color of the Frankenstein and Dracula flicks. The inclusion of Anna playing a sitar had to be a bonus, you don't get to see that much, short of a Ravi Shankar concert.

one-nine-eighty A Hammer horror from '66 which may look dated by today's standards but is worth sitting through due to it's tense thrills and suspense which will keep you guessing all the way until the truth is revealed. Harry Spalding (Ray Barrett) and his wife (Jennifer Daniel) inherit a house in the middle of nowhere (well, Cornwall) after the mysterious death of his brother. Strange things start happening as the couple settle in and meet their neighbours Dr Franklyn (Noel Willman) and his daughter Anna (Jaqueline Pearce). While most people in the local village are staying quiet the inn-keeper Tom Bailey (Michael Ripper) tries to help Harry find the truth. Dr Franklyn tries to persuade Harry to sell the house and move away as people have been dying from a 'black death', Franklyn seems to be involved somehow but Harry wants to treat carefully to find out without himself becoming embroiled in events. Using the same set and filmed back to back with another Hammer classic - "Plague of Zombies" this is really a low budget gem and was a warm up act for "Rasputin: The Mad Monk". John Gilling directed this 90 minute classic which is somewhat under rated. Perhaps people see the poster/box cover and don't want to watch the film based on the make up effects of the 'reptile' however if you ignore that and sit back and just watch the film you'll be happily surprised. 7 out of 10