The Serpent and the Rainbow
“Don't Bury Me...I'm Not Dead!”
Synopsis
A Harvard anthropologist is sent to Haiti to retrieve a strange powder that is said to have the power to bring human beings back from the dead. In his quest to find the miracle drug, the cynical scientist enters the rarely seen netherworld of walking zombies, blood rites and ancient curses. Based on the true life experiences of Wade Davis and filmed on location in Haiti, it's a frightening excursion into black magic and the supernatural.
Trailers, Teasers & Extra Featurettes
Official promotional previews, behind-the-scenes footage, and exclusive clips.
The Serpent and the Rainbow (1988) - Official TrailerOfficial
Type: Trailer • Published 2016-02-08
Top Cast
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Bill Pullman
Dennis Alan
Cathy Tyson
Marielle Duchamp
Zakes Mokae
Dargent Peytraud
Paul Winfield
Lucien Celine
Brent Jennings
Louis Mozart
Conrad Roberts
Christophe
Badja Djola
Gaston
Theresa Merritt
Simone
Michael Gough
Schoonbacher
Paul Guilfoyle
Andrew Cassedy
Dey Young
Mrs. Cassedy
Aleta Mitchell
Celestine
William Newman
French Missionary Doctor
Jaime Pina Gautier
Julio
Evencio Mosquera Slaco
Old Shaman
Kimberleigh Aarn
Margrite
Philogen Thomas
Priest
Ana Rosa Smith Avila
Mulatto Nurse
Release History & Theatrical Window
February 5, 1988
Wide Cinema Exhibition
September 6, 2017
Physical Home Media
Financials & Box Office Performance
Production Budget
$11M
Filming & production cost
Worldwide Gross
$19.6M
Total global ticket sales
Box Office Return
1.78x
+$8.6M net gain
Theatrical Status
Budget Return
Box office tier
Key Information & Fast Facts
- Director
- Wes Craven
- Screenplay & Story
- Adam Rodman, Richard Maxwell
- Original Score
- Brad Fiedel
- Original Title
- The Serpent and the Rainbow
- Country of Origin
- United States of America, Haiti, Dominican Republic
- Spoken Languages
- French, English, Spanish
- Runtime
- 1h 38m
- Production Budget
- $11M
- Worldwide Gross
- $19.6M
- Production Studios
- Universal Pictures
Creative Leadership & Key Crew
Wes Craven
Adam Rodman, Richard Maxwell, Wade Davis
Brad Fiedel
John Lindley, George Koblasa, Len Gittleman
Glenn Farr
Keith Barish, Rob Cohen, David Ladd, Doug Claybourne
Department Leadership Roster
Wes Craven
Director
Adam Rodman
Screenplay
Glenn Farr
Editor
David Ladd
Producer
Richard Maxwell
Screenplay
Doug Claybourne
Producer
Brad Fiedel
Original Music Composer
John Lindley
Director of Photography
Anthony Cecere
Stunt Coordinator
Peter Mitchell
Costume Design
David Nichols
Production Design
Gary Gutierrez
Visual Effects Supervisor
Age Classification & Content Advisories
Official viewer rating standards and content warnings across international classification boards.
R: Restricted — Under 17 requires accompanying parent or adult guardian.
International Certification Matrix
Mature — Recommended for viewers 15 and older.
FSK 18 — Restricted to adults 18 and older.
Interdit aux moins de 12 ans — 12+ only.
Restricted — Under 17 requires accompanying parent or adult guardian.
Production Stills & Gallery
Official cinematic photography and background stills for The Serpent and the Rainbow.
Featured In Curated Collections
Editorial lists, community rankings, and cinematic collections featuring The Serpent and the Rainbow.
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Frequently Asked Questions About The Serpent and the Rainbow
Quick factual answers about cast, synopsis, director, box office, and release information.
What is The Serpent and the Rainbow about?
A Harvard anthropologist is sent to Haiti to retrieve a strange powder that is said to have the power to bring human beings back from the dead. In his quest to find the miracle drug, the cynical scientist enters the rarely seen netherworld of walking zombies, blood rites and ancient curses. Based on the true life experiences of Wade Davis and filmed on location in Haiti, it's a frightening excursion into black magic and the supernatural.
Who directed The Serpent and the Rainbow?
The Serpent and the Rainbow was directed by Wes Craven.
Who stars in The Serpent and the Rainbow?
The principal cast of The Serpent and the Rainbow includes Bill Pullman, Cathy Tyson, Zakes Mokae, Paul Winfield, Brent Jennings.
When was The Serpent and the Rainbow released and how long is it?
The Serpent and the Rainbow was released in 1988 with a total runtime of 1h 38m.
What was the box office and production budget of The Serpent and the Rainbow?
The Serpent and the Rainbow had a reported production budget of $11M and grossed $19.6M at the worldwide box office (1.78 return on budget, classified as a budget recovered).
Who composed the musical score for The Serpent and the Rainbow?
The original motion picture soundtrack for The Serpent and the Rainbow was composed by Brad Fiedel.
Is The Serpent and the Rainbow based on a book or true story?
The Serpent and the Rainbow is adapted from the following source material: Book: "Wade Davis".
What is the age rating and content advisory for The Serpent and the Rainbow?
The Serpent and the Rainbow holds official age classifications: AU: M (Mature — Recommended for viewers 15 and older.); DE: 18 (FSK 18 — Restricted to adults 18 and older.); FR: 12 (Interdit aux moins de 12 ans — 12+ only.); US: R (Restricted — Under 17 requires accompanying parent or adult guardian.).