The Serpent and the Rainbow (1988): Cast, Box Office & Plot
The Serpent and the Rainbow is a 1988 horror thriller directed by Wes Craven, starring Conrad Roberts as Christophe, William Newman and Bill Pullman. It runs 1 hour 38 minutes and earned $19.6 million worldwide.
- Released
- Runtime
- 1h 38m (98 min)
- Director
- Wes Craven
- Original language
-
English - Studio
- Universal Pictures
- After the credits
- No No extra scene
What Is The Serpent and the Rainbow About?
The premise of The Serpent and the Rainbow without spoilers. The whole story is in the plot summary further down.
Don’t bury me—I’m not dead! A Harvard anthropologist travels to Haiti to retrieve a mysterious powder rumored to revive the dead. His skeptical search leads him into a hidden world of walking zombies, blood rites and ancient curses. Inspired by Wade Davis’s real experiences and shot on location, the film explores black magic and the supernatural.
The Serpent and the Rainbow Themes & Keywords
· 50 tags- voodoo
- haiti
- ritual
- zombie
- anthropologist
- haitian voodoo
- surrealism
- hallucination
- buried alive
- based on book
- 1980s
- revolution
+38 more Show fewer
- black magic
- superstition
- doctor
- nightmare
- interracial couple
- interracial relationship
- police arrest
- beach
- toxin
- secret police
- potion
- grave robber
- graveyard
- woman on top
- cult director
- political repression
- coffin
- cemetery
- torture
- tetrodotoxin
- police brutality
- dream
- zombification
- grave robbing
- pufferfish
- watching tv
- repetition in title
- female topless nudity
- sex scene
- sex in a cave
- man in jockey shorts
- bare chested male
- 1970s
- zombie horror
- supernatural horror
- folk horror
- magic
- manipulation
The Serpent and the Rainbow Cast & Characters
Conrad Roberts leads the cast as Christophe, with William Newman as French Missionary Doctor and Bill Pullman as Dennis Alan. Directed by Wes Craven; 29 actors are credited in all.
-
Director Wes Craven
- Conrad Roberts as Christophe
- William Newman as French Missionary Doctor
-
Bill Pullman as Dennis Alan - Cathy Tyson as Marielle Duchamp
Also Starring in The Serpent and the Rainbow
· 25 more- Zakes Mokae Dargent Peytraud
- Brent Jennings Louis Mozart
- Paul Winfield Lucien Celine
- Paul Guilfoyle Andrew Cassedy
- Michael Gough Schoonbacher
- Michael Jackson Newscaster
- Francis Guinan American Doctor
- Dey Young Mrs. Cassedy
- Badja Djola Gaston
- Theresa Merritt Simone
- Diamanda Galás Voices of the Dead
- Jackson Delgado Possessed Dancer
- Aleta Mitchell Celestine
- Evencio Mosquera Slaco Old Shaman
- Jaime Pina Gautier Julio
- Kimberleigh Aarn Margrite
Show all 29 cast members Show fewer cast members
- Philogen Thomas Priest
- Ana Rosa Smith Avila Mulatto Nurse
- Sally-Anne Munn Nurse / Intern
- Robert De James Old Lame Peasant
- Jean-Baptiste Rosvelt Black Waiter
- Barbara Guillaume Mozart’s Whore
- Betty Garcia Rodriguez Pretty Whore
- Claudia Pimentel Old Crone
- Luis Tavare Pesquera Kyle Cassedy
More from Wes Craven
More films directed by Wes Craven, best-rated first: A Nightmare on Elm Street, Scream, Red Eye and Paris, je t'aime.
The Serpent and the Rainbow Plot Summary
What happens in The Serpent and the Rainbow from start to finish, spoilers included, with a timeline of 12 key events. The opening is below; the full summary is a 3-minute read.
Spoilers ahead
In 1978, a Haitian man named Christophe mysteriously dies in a French missionary clinic as a voodoo parade marches past his window. The next morning, Christophe is laid to rest in a traditional Catholic funeral, and a mysterious man in a suit—who was outside Christophe’s hospital window on the night he died—attends the ceremony. As the coffin is lowered, Christophe’s eyes open and tears roll down his cheeks, hinting at something beyond a simple burial.
Seven years later, Harvard anthropologist Dennis Alan travels to the Amazon in search of rare herbs and medicines, studying how shamanic practice and plant lore intersect with healing. After drinking a potent potion, he experiences a chilling vision: the suited man from Christophe’s funeral appears again, this time amid a pit of corpses.
Full summary
The whole story of The Serpent and the Rainbow, scene by scene
The Serpent and the Rainbow Box Office
The Serpent and the Rainbow grossed $19.6 million worldwide.
Worldwide gross
$19.6M
- US & Canada
- $19.6M
How Well Do You Know The Serpent and the Rainbow?
10 questions about the story, each with a hint if you get stuck. Pick an answer to see whether you were right.
Question 1 of 10
- Question 1: not answered
- Question 2: not answered
- Question 3: not answered
- Question 4: not answered
- Question 5: not answered
- Question 6: not answered
- Question 7: not answered
- Question 8: not answered
- Question 9: not answered
- Question 10: not answered
What is the name of the Harvard anthropologist who travels to Haiti?
Cars in The Serpent and the Rainbow
14 cars on screen, including the Land-Rover 88'' Series III Station Wagon and the 1983 BMW 7 E23.
-
Land-Rover 88'' Series III Station Wagon Important role -
1983 BMW 7 E23 Minor role -
1978 BMW 733i E23 Minor role -
1978 Isuzu KB Minor role
The Serpent and the Rainbow Also Known As
22 alternative titles, including “Ormen och regnbågen” and “La serpiente y el arco iris”.
- Also known as
-
- Ormen och regnbågen
- La serpiente y el arco iris
- Voodoo
- Käärme ja sateenkaari
- Змей и радуга
- ゾンビ伝説
- Wes Craven's The Serpent and the Rainbow
- Die Schlange im Regenbogen
- Il serpente e l'arcobaleno
- A Maldição dos Mortos-Vivos
- L'Emprise des ténèbres
- A kígyó és a szivárvány
+10 more Show fewer
- Had a duha
- Βουντού
- Wąż i tęcza
- Yılan ve Gökkuşağı
- 악령의 관
- I gravens dybe stille ro
- 蛇与彩虹
- Șarpele și curcubeul
- ฆ่า...ข้าไม่ตาย
- הנחש והקשת
Seen The Serpent and the Rainbow?
Movies Like The Serpent and the Rainbow
Films with a similar story, tone or audience, including Serpent Island, Voodoo Island and Isle of the Snake People.
The Serpent and the Rainbow FAQ: Cast & Box Office
Runtime, release date, director, cast, box office and post-credit scenes of The Serpent and the Rainbow, each answered in a sentence.
How long is The Serpent and the Rainbow?
The Serpent and the Rainbow runs 1 hour 38 minutes (98 minutes).
When was The Serpent and the Rainbow released?
The Serpent and the Rainbow was released on February 5, 1988.
Who directed The Serpent and the Rainbow?
The Serpent and the Rainbow was directed by Wes Craven.
More films by Wes Craven Who is in the cast of The Serpent and the Rainbow?
The Serpent and the Rainbow stars Conrad Roberts as Christophe, William Newman as French Missionary Doctor and Bill Pullman as Dennis Alan, among 29 credited actors.
How much did The Serpent and the Rainbow make at the box office?
The Serpent and the Rainbow grossed $19.6 million worldwide.
Does The Serpent and the Rainbow have a post-credit scene?
No. The Serpent and the Rainbow has no extra scene during or after the credits.
Coming soon to your phone
The Plot Explained Movie Summary App
From blockbusters to hidden gems: plot summaries, endings explained and timelines on your phone. Save your favorites and never miss a twist again.
Be the first to know when it launches. Your email stays private, always. Learn more about the app
