Sssssss is a Fine Line

There sometimes is a fine line between what people would define as horror or not. I believe the film Sssssss (1973) would fall into that category.  I want to warn you that I'm going to provide a lot of information and pictures here about this movie.  But I won't give away the ending.

 I remember being a little girl and watching this movie with my mom. I remember the grave feeling it gave me. Not necessarily a horrific feeling but just really weighty and heavy hearted. I guess it all boils down to how one feels about snakes.

Because there are those in this movie and if you’re really squeamish about snakes, then this movie may fall into the horror category for you people.

I am okay with snakes as long as they’re not poisonous. I do believe that Manitou has a fear of snakes…I think…and feet are right up there with them. Sorry honey I don’t want to give away your secrets. We are all patiently waiting for your top list of things that scare you.

 Do you ever remember watching a movie when you were much younger and recall that you really liked it, or it affected you in some way? Well I was having a discussion with my love Manitou about old movies the other night, and this movie came up, which I forgot entirely about until he mentioned it. The memory of that feeling came back instantly and I wanted to see it again as soon as possible because I was wondering if it would have the same affect on me; giving me that eerie subtle feeling that I love. Yeah I love to have a creepy low key uneasy feeling…it’s almost my most favorite kind of feeling, but not many things make me feel that way. Anyway, that is how I remembered it…soooo I watched the movie again.

So in 1973 I was like 7ish years old. I’m not sure if I was taken to the theater to see this or watched it later on cable, but I do know now after watching it again what those feelings were…it was the first feelings of love…yep…it was Dirk Benedict who plays the student assistant David and experimental subject.

Watching this movie really tugged on my little girl heart strings; not only because Dirk was such a complete babe in my eyes, but it also made me feel overly sorry for him with those puppy dogs eyes, and what he was going through in the movie.  It wasn't the snakes at all that provided that feeling...sigh.  But I can tell you that despite my love struck eyes for a young Dirk, watching this again proved to me that it was indeed a good movie; a good movie for 1973. If you appreciate that era and the movies that came out of it, then you will enjoy this movie, especially if you dig snakes. I also really enjoyed the musical score in the movie, which was largely piano based.

All of the reptiles were real in this movie, which gives me a lot of respect for actor Strother Martin.

who superbly plays the mad doctor, and handles the snakes with an expert touch throughout the film.

Well except for when he seemingly offers them liquor and they slurp it down without hesitation.  And, wow, his character’s name was Dr. Stoner…you just gotta love that. 

  Yeah I know it wasn't real liquor I ain't that dumb!

 

I wonder how many people (idiots) tried to offer this to their snakes after seeing this movie in the 70’s.

There are many very impressive snakes in the movie like King Cobras and Pythons and some highly poisonous African snake seen here that puts you into cardiac arrest immediately after being bitten.  Nasty little thing!

There is a statement in the beginning of the movie that the cast and crew were exposed to very hazardous conditions. The early scenes go into the marvels of snake venom and feature the actors interacting with the snakes and show the dangers they can present to the public if not handled with the right respect and training.

Dr. Stoner wants to help humanity by transforming people into creatures with the survival prowess of snakes and the intelligence of humans, therefore surviving all of the future inevitable atrocities in store for human kind. So the second student he chooses after the first one goes horribly wrong and winds up in the local freak-show as shown here

is really in for it as it’s a very painful process being turned into a snake.

There’s a lot of feeble whimpering and crying in the progression. As a child this really made me feel sad for the wildly cute male subject; as an adult it was a bit pathetic. As the student willingly gives his body to the many injections he thinks are only anti snake venom shots, he is slowly being turned into a man-snake of the King Cobra kind.

Oh my this is really happening, isn't it?

And finally......

There was only one thing that was pretty annoying to me in the film, and that was the mongoose that was being kept in a very small cage, and would never shut the hell up.  

But I don’t blame him because I would be shouting too if it were me in that cage.
 

So overall I would recommend this movie for a little fun in a throwback kind of way. It’s rated PG so, yeah, whether it’s gonna creep you out all depends on how you feel about snakes, um, or the young Dirk Benedict ;-).  If one has a major fear of snakes and doesn’t even like to look at them on a screen, this movie will definitely be horrific to them…for the rest give it a shot, and I don’t think you’ll be disappointed, in my opinion.

Oh and this guy is in it too.  Can you tell who he is?

Originally Posted on May 30, 2010

 

Signed,
F. Regan