Hugh Grant’s First Horror Movie ‘The Lair of the White Worm’: 80s Bram Stoker Adaptation You’ve Never Heard Of

Hugh Grant’s portrayal of a horror villain in ‘Heretic’ has captivated viewers, as he is well-known for his endearing parts in romantic comedies. Grant had previously appeared in horror films, but ‘Heretic’ is his first significant role as an antagonist. His performance in Ken Russell’s campy horror-comedy ‘The Lair of the White Worm’ (1988), which was a loose adaptation of Bram Stoker’s lesser-known novel, deserves that distinction.

Grant plays Lord James D’Ampton in ‘The Lair of the White Worm’, a British aristocrat who is caught up in an old tale about a terrifying snake that lurks beneath his family’s home. The picture stands out for its wildly exaggerated comic and horror components, which frequently involve caricatured characters, heavy-handed innuendo, and extreme satire. Grant’s elegant, sophisticated demeanour is the ideal counterpoint to the strange happenings around him. He plays D’Ampton, the quintessential British aristocrat, who watches with controlled expressions as the horror intensifies, adding to the comedy effect of the movie.

Image Courtesy: Collider

Critics initially dismissed ‘The Lair of the White Worm’, but it has since gained cult status for its unabashedly over-the-top, satirical approach to horror. With Grant’s unflappable British politeness and dry humour contrasting the madness, the film stands as a unique blend of horror, camp, and comedy that showcases a very different side of Hugh Grant.

The story revolves around archaeology student Angus Flint (played by a young Peter Capaldi), who discovers a huge snake skull at the D’Ampton estate. Along with their love interests Mary and Eve, Flint and D’Ampton start looking into odd happenings connected to a seductive neighbour named Lady Sylvia Marsh (Amanda Donohoe). The culprit is soon exposed as Lady Sylvia, who gives an extravagant display while taking great pleasure in her snake-like appearance. As a sign of the film’s cheeky tone, Grant’s character imagines Eve and Sylvia fighting as flight attendants in one of the film’s strange, bizarre dream scenes.

–Farheen Ali